ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the most significant causes of mortality in the badger population in the UK are.

Ben Bradshaw: Post-weaning starvation accounts for 50–70 per cent. of cub deaths per year, and is the single biggest natural mortality factor among British badgers. Starvation, especially during exceptionally dry years, may also account for a significant proportion of the adult population. Over half of all deaths in the Central Science Laboratory's Woodchester Park study area are attributable to collisions with motor vehicles, and it has been estimated that at least 37,500 badgers, out of an estimated British population of about 350,000, are killed in road traffic accidents each year. Motor vehicles, therefore, are probably the greatest unnatural cause of badger mortality.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 8 December 2003, Official Report, column 216W, on badgers, whether gassing of badger setts is permitted in the Republic of Ireland.

Ben Bradshaw: Gassing is not permitted in the Republic of Ireland.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what numerical targets for the reduction in incidence of TB in cattle have been set for the next 10 years.

Ben Bradshaw: This is a subject of our present consultation "Preparing for a new GB Strategy on Bovine Tuberculosis".

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under what circumstances the Government would withdraw (a) wholly and (b) partly from intervention in the control of bovine TB.

Ben Bradshaw: Our thoughts on the rationale for Government intervention on the control of bovine TB are set out in section 4.4 of the consultation document "Preparing for a new GB strategy on bovine tuberculosis" published on 9 February 2004.
	We are currently seeking the views of interested parties. Question 4 (page 28) specifically asks for views on the extent of Government intervention in the control of bovine TB.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the requirement for public support for wildlife management schemes in order to reduce the incidence of TB in cattle; and what measures she has considered in order to gain such support.

Ben Bradshaw: No such assessment is currently being made.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  at what level TB in badgers creates a significant risk to public health through (a) direct and (b) indirect transmission;
	(2)  at what level the incidence of TB in badgers starts to pose a significant risk to human health through indirect transmission via companion animals.

Ben Bradshaw: The risk of direct transmission of bovine tuberculosis from badgers to humans is negligible. However, increased prevalence of TB in badgers would increase the potential for transmission of Mycobacterium bovis (the causative organism for bovine TB) to staff of Defra and its executive agencies who handle badger carcases. Full training is given to staff to minimise this risk.
	The potential risk of indirect transmission from badger to humans through cattle is also low. This is because of the measures already in place including widespread pasteurisation of milk and regular TB testing of cattle herds.
	There is no significant risk of companion animals contracting the disease from badgers. There are sporadic cases of cats contracting the disease in Great Britain. Most of these are thought to result from drinking unpasteurised milk, although there is anecdotal evidence of cats contracting the disease from wildlife.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what her definition is of a sustainable control policy for bovine TB;
	(2)  what factors constitute sustainability in the context of a 10-year vision for bovine TB.

Ben Bradshaw: A sustainable control policy for bovine TB could be defined as one that takes into account and seeks to balance economic, social, environmental and public health considerations.
	How the interests of wider society and the principles of sustainability should be recognised in a 10-year vision for bovine TB is a subject of the current consultation on "Preparing for a new GB strategy on bovine tuberculosis".

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information she holds on the existence in countries other than the United Kingdom of suitable accommodation for testing badgers in pursuit of development of a vaccine.

Ben Bradshaw: Such facilities exist in the Republic of Ireland to support the Irish badger TB vaccine programme. Defra's Veterinary Laboratories Agency has active research links with staff at the facility.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress is being made in the application of variable number tandem repeats in subdividing known TB spoligotypes; and what the epidemiological significance of this work is.

Ben Bradshaw: "M. bovis" isolates are now being typed by both spoligotyping and variable number tandem repeat techniques. The latter technique has successfully subdivided the most prevalent spoligotype in GB into at least 10 smaller groups. However, it has not divided other spoligotypes to such an extent. This further degree of differentiation, especially when it is found that there is geographical clustering of subgroups, will be useful in disease control by helping elucidate likely sources of infection.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the badger culling study conducted in the Republic of Ireland;
	(2)  what information with relevance to determining policy options for the control of cattle TB in the UK she has obtained from the Republic of Ireland in relation to badger control trials;
	(3)  when she expects the results of the badger culling study conducted in the Republic of Ireland to be published.

Ben Bradshaw: The results from the Irish badger culling study have not yet been published, although I understand they are expected shortly. We will look closely at the results once published to establish what we can learn and apply to the situation in Great Britain.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the current state of progress of the TB99 survey is; and when she expects to publish results.

Ben Bradshaw: An analysis of the pre-Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak dataset is being finalised. An analysis of the 2002 dataset is on-going. Data from 2003 is still being collected (primarily outstanding control reports) and will be subject to analysis later in 2004. 2004 data is now being collected, concentrating on only three triplets within the Randomised Badger Culling Trial. A shorter, more focused epidemiological questionnaire is being prepared for use from 2005. The next report of the Independent Scientific group on Cattle TB will include some results from the analysis of the pre-FMD data and, possibly, the 2002 data.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average cost of (a) processing a successful Section 10 application under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 and (b) supervising its execution was in the last period for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: Defra staff who process and supervise licences record time to broad work areas. All time spent in connection with the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 by these staff is recorded under a single heading and the time input, which is required to calculate the costs you requested, cannot be accurately separated into processing and supervisory time. Furthermore, no distinction is made between time spent processing successful and unsuccessful applications.
	During the financial year 2002–03 the Wildlife Management Team, who carry out the tasks specified in your questions (a) and (b) , spent a total of 11.5 staff years on work connected with the Protection of Badgers Act 1992. During this period the team determined 852 licence applications. The total staff costs, including travel and subsistence associated with this work were £334,050.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the size of the infective dose of M. bovis to cattle affects the (a) incubation period and (b) the severity of the disease.

Ben Bradshaw: Experimental challenge work indicates that the size of M. bovis challenge affects the speed of disease development and the extent of pathology. It is likely that a similar relationship exists in natural infections.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what protocol has been adopted for the post mortem examination of reactor cattle for the purpose of detecting TB lesions.

Ben Bradshaw: Post mortem examination (PME) of reactor cattle is carried out in most cases by the Meat Hygiene Service on behalf of Defra and the Devolved Administrations. Occasionally, examinations are conducted by Veterinary Officers of the State Veterinary Service, depending on locally agreed arrangements.
	In any case, the protocols for PME of cattle in which TB is suspected are set out in Schedule 10, Part VIII of the Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995 (as amended).
	Additionally, chapters 4 (Section 8) and 14 (Section F) of the Meat Hygiene Service Operations Manual contain instructions on sampling and reporting requirements.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost to her Department of the pre- and post-movement testing regime will be.

Ben Bradshaw: The proposal as set out in the consultation document 'Preparing for a new GB strategy on bovine TB' is for pre-movement testing of cattle moving from one and two year testing herds to other herds. The resource implications of this proposal will be estimated as part of the consultation process which will involve discussions with veterinary and farming interests and Local Government.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what provision she has made for farmers who wish to undertake pre- and post-movement testing who are unable to secure the services of a veterinary surgeon for that purpose within the time frame required.

Ben Bradshaw: It is too early in the consultation process to be able to determine whether or not this will be a problem. Detailed discussions will be held with the veterinary profession on resources.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the use of stop snares.

Ben Bradshaw: The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 protects all wild birds and certain animals from killing and taking. Under Section 11 of the 1981 Act free running snares are permissible provided that the snare is not placed in such a way to allow injury to any animal listed on Schedule 6 of the 1981 Act, which includes badgers. Section 11(3) makes it an offence to set in position, or knowingly cause or permit to set in position, any snare which is of such a nature and so placed as to be calculated to cause bodily injury to any wild animal. The snare must also be inspected at least once every 24 hours, so as to avoid any animal held in the snare suffering unnecessarily through starvation or dehydration. All non-target species must be released from the snare.
	Stop snares are not prohibited by the 1981 Act.

Badgers/Bovine TB

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether it is necessary to ensure that potential immigrant populations are free from TB infection before culling TB-infected badgers within a specific locality if such a cull is to have epidemiological value.

Ben Bradshaw: Such an approach would be of limited value as M. bovis is endemic in British badgers. It would also be impractical, given the limitations of current live diagnostic tests, and the likelihood that all relevant neighbouring badgers could not be tested.

Birds

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the estimated population was of (a) corncrakes, (b) woodlarks, (c) nightjars, (d) skylarks, (e) curlews, (f) snipe, (g) redshanks and (h) yellowhammers in Great Britain in 1990; and what the current estimate of the population is.

Ben Bradshaw: Curlew, snipe and redshank are amber-listed. All the rest are red-listed. Red list species are those that are Globally Threatened according to IUCN criteria; those whose population or range has declined rapidly in recent years; and those that have declined historically and not shown a substantial recent recovery. Amber list species are those with an unfavourable conservation status in Europe, those whose population or range has declined moderately in recent years; those whose population has declined historically but made a substantial recent recovery; rare breeders; and those with internationally important or localised populations. Species that fulfil none of the criteria are green-listed.
	The estimation of the various bird populations is given as follows.
	
		
			  NCC 1990/1988–91 atlas(1) Apep 2(2) 
		
		
			 Corncrake 575 589 
			 Snipe 30,000 30,000 
			 Curlew 35,500 No new national estimateavailable 
			 Redshank 32,500 No new national estimateavailable 
			 Nightjar 2,000 3,400 
			 Woodlark 220 1,426–1,552 
			 Skylark 2,000,000 1,700,000 
			 Yellowhammer 1,200,000 790,000 
		
	
	(1) Figures from Stroud, D. A., Pienkowski, M. W. and Mudge, G. P. (1990). "Protecting internationally important bird sites: a review of the network of EC Special Protection Areas in Great Britain". Nature Conservancy Council, Peterborough. 230 pp except for skylark and yellowhammer which are taken from Gibbons, D. W., Reid, J. B. and Chapman, R. A. 1993. "The new atlas of breeding birds in Britain and Ireland: 1988–1991". T. and A. D. Poyser, London.
	(2) Figures from working draft of the Avian Population Estimates Panel.

Pesticides

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of pesticide use on the United Kingdom's bee population; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: Pesticides are approved on the basis that they will present minimal risk to non-target species, including bees.
	Any suspected pesticide poisonings of bees are investigated through Defra's Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme (WHS). This includes field inquiries, disease assessment of the bees submitted and residue analyses. Results are reported back to the regulatory authorities (the Pesticides Safety Directorate and the Health and Safety Executive) to inform the pesticide approval process.
	Annual reports of bee incidents are included in reports of the Environmental Panel of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides entitled "Pesticide Poisoning of animals; investigations of suspected incidents in the United Kingdom". Copies of the latest report of investigations in 2002 are available in the House Library.

TRANSPORT

British Transport Police

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many British Transport Police officers are planned to be based in each British Transport Police force area for the period 2004–05.

Tony McNulty: The British Transport Police have not finalised detailed assumptions of manpower numbers at area level for 2004–05. However, BTP expect the proportional split of manpower to be broadly the same as in the current year shown in the table with the exception of London Underground Area which will expand by 100.
	
		
			 Area 2003–04 
		
		
			 Force Headquarters 131 
			 London North 295 
			 London South 314 
			 London Underground 537 
			 North Eastern 201 
			 North Western 258 
			 Western 279 
			 Scotland 207 
			 On secondment 29 
			 Total 2,251

Disabled Parking

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library an update on progress made since December 2002 on taking forward responses to new representations made by the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee on the blue badge scheme.

Tony McNulty: Work is in hand to take forward the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee's recommendations.
	Changes need to be made to primary and secondary legislation, further research needs to be carried out and revised guidance issued to local authorities.
	Primary Legislation
	We have introduced a new clause in the Traffic Management Bill to give enforcement officers a power to inspect blue badges.
	We are now looking for a suitable opportunity to remove the reference in law to "Institution" Badges and replace it with the less stigmatising term "organisation" Badges. We are also planning to implement reciprocity agreements with EU and ECMT member states for the recognition of disabled persons' parking badges.
	Secondary Legislation
	We are already working on these changes, including extending the Scheme to those under two and those with temporary disabilities. We expect to consult on draft regulations later in the year.
	Research
	We will be embarking on the following research projects in the next few months:
	establishing the feasibility of a database of Blue Badge Holders, and looking at the Central London exemption from the Scheme.
	Should a database prove feasible then we would aim to legislate in that area in due course.
	We will also be carrying out research to examine the case for extending the scheme to certain other groups of disabled people. This will include a wide range of people including those with mental health problems, autism and those who are partially-sighted.

Rail Compensation

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 10 March 2004, Official Report, column 1488W, on rail compensation, if he will list (a) the compensation arrangements for delays and cancellations, of each train operation company's Passenger Charter and (b) the date when each of the franchises is due for renewal.

Tony McNulty: Passenger's Charters are available from individual train operating companies. The terms and conditions are based on the National Rail Conditions of Carriage. As a minimum, passengers travelling without a season ticket will be entitled to compensation to the value of 20 per cent. of the fare paid for the effective leg where the journey is delayed by more than an hour because of an operator's failure or infrastructure difficulties. Season ticket holders are compensated if performance over the period preceding renewal falls below the published standards.
	The following table provides the expiry dates for each franchise:
	
		
			  Expiry dates for each franchise 
		
		
			 Anglia Railways Ends April 2004 
			 Arriva Trains Northern Ends Autumn 2004 
			 Arriva Trains Wales c2c Ends May 2011 
			 Central Trains Ends April 2006 
			 Chiltern Ends December 2021 
			 First Great Eastern Ends April 2004 
			 First Great Western Ends February 2006 
			 First North Western Ends Autumn 2004 
			 Gatwick Express Ends May 2011 
			 GNER Ends April 2005 
			 Island Line February 2007 
			 Merseyrail July 2028 
			 Midland Mainline April 2008 
			 ScotRail Renewal planned in Autumn 2004 
			 South Eastern Trains(3) Planned to end in 2005 
			 Silverlink Ends October 2004 
			 South Central Ends December 2009 
			 South West Trains Ends February 2007 
			 Thames Trains Ends April 2006 
			 Thameslink Ends April 2006 
			 TransPennine Express Ends February 2012(4)  
			 Virgin Crosscountry Ends March 2012 
			 Virgin West Coast Ends March 2012 
			 WAGN: West Anglia Ends April 2004 
			 WAGN: Great Northern April 2006 
			 Wessex April 2006 
		
	
	(3) Operated for SRA under section 211 of the Transport Act 2000
	(4) With an option to extend for up to a further five years

Railway Bridges (Salisbury)

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when railway bridge works at (a) Skew Bridge, Salisbury will be completed and (b) Broken Cross Bridge, Ford will be started.

Tony McNulty: The Highways Agency, who are doing the A36 Skew Bridge improvement, anticipate the completion date for works as being 'late summer 2004'.
	The anticipated start date for work on Broken Cross Bridge on the A338 near Ford is early May 2004. The works will comprise skid-resistant surfacing and some kerb realignment. The revised signing was undertaken shortly after the track incursion last November.

Romford Station

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how much it cost to maintain Romford railway station in the last financial year for which figures are available;
	(2)  how much public funding has been invested in (a) Romford and (b) Gidea Park railway stations in the last five years.

Tony McNulty: The information is not held centrally. The day to day maintenance of railway stations is the responsibility of train operating companies whilst structural maintenance and improvements are the responsibility of Network Rail. No Government grants have been made to either Romford or Guidea Park stations.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Fire Safety

Llew Smith: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what recent steps have been taken to provide fire safety training for (a) hon. Member's, (b) their staff and (c) officials of the House; and if he will make a statement on current fire safety arrangements in place for (i) the Palace of Westminster and (ii) other buildings of the parliamentary estate.

Archy Kirkwood: Annual Fire safety training is available for all those who work on the parliamentary estate. This training is offered to Members and their staff but is compulsory for staff of the House. There is a rolling programme of training staff and contractors' personnel permanently employed on the estate. Since September 2003, 1,083 staff of the House have been trained. 72 of these have also been trained as evacuation marshals.
	Between June and November 2003 a total of 45 fire safety training sessions were available to Members and their staff; 284 Members and approximately 525 members of their staff were invited to attend. However, only one Member and 30 Members' staff actually took part.
	In an effort to improve this very low response from Members and their staff, the Fire Safety Manager has made a special effort to publicise training and encourage attendance, beginning in 1 Parliament Street. So far this month, eight training sessions have been made available to the 60 Members and 80 staff with offices there. Take-up has slightly improved but is still disappointing: four Members and 28 of their staff have been trained. Eight more sessions are being held this week, and the programme will be extended to the other outbuildings as well as the Palace.
	Initial fire safety training is given to staff of the House during the Health and Safety element of mandatory induction courses. Discussions are taking place with the aim of including similar training in the induction programme for Members' staff.
	Fire evacuation drills in the Palace of Westminster and all other buildings on the parliamentary estate also form part of fire safety training. Drills were conducted in every building on the parliamentary estate during the week beginning 15 December 2003. Everybody in the building at the time of a drill is expected to take part and I would encourage Members to set the example for their staff and evacuate the building during a fire drill.
	Fire safety training is essential to the security of everyone on the Parliamentary Estate. I strongly encourage Members and their staff to attend training when they are invited to do so.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Eritrea

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what help the Department is giving to Eritrea, with particular reference to measures to overcome the effects of recent conflict.

Hilary Benn: Agreed UK contributions for Eritrea from the beginning of 2003 are:
	
		£
		
			  
		
		
			  
			 Food Aid—World Food Programme From 1 March 2004 1,000,000 
			 Food Aid—World Food Programme From 26 March 2003 1,000,000 
			 Emergency Nutrition—Dutch Interchurch Aid From 23 June 2003 550,000 
			 International Committee of the Red Cross From 15 March 2004 500,000 
			 Emergency Nutrition—UNICEF From 9 December 2003 500.000 
			 Health and Nutrition—UNICEF From 1 March 2003 500,000 
			 International Committee of the Red Cross From 1 March 2003 500,000 
			 Catholic Fund for Overseas Development From 21 May 2003 200,000 
		
	
	The conflict with Ethiopia is a contributory factor (poor rainfall being another) to food insecurity that has made food aid and specialised health and nutritional Interventions necessary. The support to the ICRC is more specifically targeted on addressing the effects of conflict.
	We and others in the international community are continuing to make clear to both parties that the Boundary Commission's decision is final and binding. We are also urging the two parties to engage in dialogue on all the issues separating them. Only through normalising relations can a lasting peace be secured and we therefore call on both Ethiopia and Eritrea to cooperate with the recently-appointed United Nations Special Envoy, Lloyd Axworthy.

Guinea

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make it his policy to raise with the international community the need to deal with the malaria problem in the Nzerekore region in Guinea, with particular reference to the Kouankan and other refugee camps; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: UNICEF is taking the lead on action on malaria in refugee camps in Guinea where, according to the UN, malaria is the second biggest cause of death amongst under-5's.
	The UNICEF emergency health programme includes provision of insecticide-impregnated bed nets and training in malaria control for 200 health workers. We have recently contributed £500,000 to UNICEF for its emergency health programme in Guinea.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Anti-competitive Practices

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations have been received regarding anti-competitive practices associated with the distribution of bounty bags to new mothers through NHS facilities; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: I have been asked to reply.
	No representations have been received regarding anti-competitive practices associated with the distribution of bounty packs to new mothers through National Health Service facilities.

BNFL American Assets

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the maximum liability to the public purse arising from BNFL's United States assets.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 18 March 2004
	The performance of BNFL's US businesses has been detailed in successive BNFL Annual Reports. The department is now working with the company to minimise its exposure to further risks in the US clean-up market. Until that process is complete it would be premature to speculate on any residual liability that there might be.

Call Centres

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the number of UK call centre employees working for employers who are using VAT grouping arrangements to avoid the ultimate client incurring irrecoverable VAT charges on call centre services.

Patricia Hewitt: My Department has made no estimate of the number of UK call centre employees working for employers who are using VAT grouping arrangements. VAT policy is a matter for Treasury Ministers.

Defence Knowledge Transfer

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on defence knowledge transfer to civil manufacturing.

Adam Ingram: The Government is committed to assisting industry to maintain and increase its competitiveness for the wider economic benefits to this country. Transfer of defence knowledge to civil manufacturing is a key facet of this commitment.
	The MOD has a key role in delivering the Government's agenda on promoting wealth creation through the science base and has been active in technology transfer. Changes in the way Science and Technology is funded following the privatisation of QinetiQ will result in defence research investment reaching commercial markets. In addition, The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is involved with a number of joint ventures which contribute to knowledge and technology transfer. The setting up of the Defence Diversification Agency in 1998 also helped work towards greater two-way technology transfer between the defence and civil sectors.
	Getting mature technologies in to the supplier base at the right time to support our acquisition plans is one of the key outputs of the way the MOD manages its research programme.

Departmental Communications

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff are employed in the Department to work in the communications field, broken down by (a) Government Information and Communication Service staff and (b) other staff, broken down by (i) press officers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) others.

Patricia Hewitt: On 1 March 2004 there were 47 members of the Government Information and Communications Service (GICS) working in the DTI Strategy Unit's Communications Directorate. The figure includes 19 Press Officers. Other GICS staff worked in Marketing, Internal Communications, Strategic Communications and internet/new media teams.
	The Special Advisers' Code of Conduct sets out the sort of work a special adviser may undertake on behalf of their Minister, including communications activity.

Departmental Communications

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total expenditure on communications for her Department has been in 2003–04, broken down by expenditure on (a) Government Information and Communication Service staff and (b) other staff, broken down by (i) press officers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) others.

Patricia Hewitt: The 2003–04 running costs of the DTI Strategy Unit's Communications Directorate is expected to be £2.9 million. The detailed information is not held in the form requested and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
	The Special Advisers' Code of Conduct sets out the sort of work a special adviser may undertake on behalf of their Minister. This includes communications activity. Details of the costs of Special Advisers are given on an annual basis. Information for the financial year 2003–04 will be published in due course.

Fair Trade Products

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to encourage Government departments and agencies to offer fair trade products in their restaurants and cafeterias.

Patricia Hewitt: It is government policy to promote Fairtrade products, against the background of the need to obtain best value for money, the EC procurement rules and the Department's objectives. Within these guidelines the Department and its Agencies are committed to supporting ethical trading wherever possible.
	Since September 2002, I have ensured that Fairtrade tea and coffee are available throughout DTI HQ, and many of my Cabinet colleagues have done likewise. I am pleased to announce that Government departmental restaurants and cafeterias are continually adding to their range of Fairtrade products. In addition to Fairtrade coffee and tea, staff, visitors, and ministers can now enjoy Fairtrade cereal and chocolate bars, and Fairtrade hot chocolate, sweetened with Fairtrade sugar.

Fair Trade Products

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to encourage more companies to participate in fair trade practices.

Patricia Hewitt: The Government has worked hard to encourage companies to participate in fair trade practices. The Government, through DFID, has provided £0.5 million in support for UK development awareness and education campaigns centred around fair trade over the past two years. This includes £120,000 to the media campaigns of the Fairtrade Foundation to raise both business and consumer awareness of how fair trade benefits poor producers and to increase the exposure of products carrying the Fairtrade mark.
	Government support for fair trade is part of a wider programme designed to mainstream social responsible business practices in the corporate sector. The Government, through DfID, funds the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI); £1.3 million over the last three years. The ETI, an alliance of Trade Unions, NGOs and private companies, seeks to promote good practices in the implementation of labour related codes of conduct throughout the supply chain.

Miners' Compensation

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how long on average former miners (a) represented and (b) not represented by a trade union have waited for their respiratory claims to be resolved.

Nigel Griffiths: The Department does not hold these figures.

Post Office Closures

David Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will instruct Post Office Ltd. to publish a profile of the select teams of personnel involved in walking between each sub-post office proposed for closure in the Wakefield area plan and the named alternative branch indicating how many of the personnel were (a) wheelchair users, (b) physically disabled, (c) aged between 65 to 75 years, (d) aged between 75 to 85 years, (e) aged over 90 years and (f) wheeling pushchairs and accompanied by young children.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 18 March 2004
	No. Post Office Ltd. personnel involved in drawing up closure proposals under the urban reinvention programme undertake a detailed on the ground study assessment of the accessibility of the alternative offices identified as the main receiving branches and their facilities for the disabled. This assessment includes the nature of the terrain between the branches, the distance of the journey on foot, including how busy the roads are, where there are pedestrian crossings, traffic lights or underpasses where these need to be crossed. Access by public transport, predominantly by bus, is also checked giving route numbers and distance of stops from the closing and receiving branches. Availability of parking is also checked. The offices in Wakefield scheduled to close have an alternative office within 0.5–0.6 miles accessible by bus.

Post Office Closures

David Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she takes to monitor the factual accuracy of information upon which proposals to close sub-post offices are based; what steps have been taken to evaluate the factual accuracy of the Post Office area plan for Wakefield; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 18 March 2004
	The public consultation process enables any factual inaccuracies in the proposals to be identified and Postwatch closely monitors every individual closure proposal including factual accuracy of information from a consumer perspective.

Post Office Closures

David Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what assessment has been made of the change in the number of road journeys consequent on the proposal to close sub-post offices within the Wakefield metropolitan district;
	(2)  what assessment has been made of the health and social care implications of the proposal to close sub-post offices within the Wakefield metropolitan district;
	(3)  what steps were taken during the development of the Post Office area plan for Wakefield to assess the consequences of the plan for levels of road accidents and fatalities involving pedestrians.

Stephen Timms: holding answers 18 March 2004
	These are operational matters for Post Office Ltd. and I have asked the Chief Executive to respond direct to my hon. Friend.

Postwatch Scotland

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in how many cases Postwatch Scotland has lodged an objection to a proposed post office closure in the context of the Urban Reinvention Programme; and in how many cases Postwatch Scotland has withdrawn such an objection.

Stephen Timms: These are operational matters for Postwatch and I have asked the Chairman of Postwatch Scotland to respond direct to the hon. Member.

Regional Development Agencies

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many (a) new and (b) safeguarded jobs are directly attributable to each regional development agency for each year since their inception.

Jacqui Smith: When England's Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) were established in April 1999, they inherited eleven different programmes, each with their own budgets, objectives and output definitions. So the figures for the three years 1999–2000 to 2001–2002 were reported using a number of different definitions. The following table shows the total number of jobs directly attributable to RDA activity for each of the first three years since their inception. The figures are not split between new and safeguarded jobs.
	
		
			  1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			 Advantage West Midlands 25,305 12,792 8,587 
			 East of England Development Agency 2,615 3,019 1,546 
			 East Midlands Development Agency 10,092 11,243 9,321 
			 London Development Agency(5) N/a N/a 13,007 
			 Northwest Development Agency 33,340 34, 685 29,523 
			 ONE NorthEast 11,695 15,369 18,786 
			 South East England Development Agency 8,310 16,476 3,063 
			 South West of England Regional Development Agency 3,547 21,766 17,965 
			 Yorkshire Forward 15,720 21,282 14,788 
		
	
	The basis for reporting outputs changed with the introduction of the Single Programme budget in April 2002, when a common targetry framework was introduced, together with a set of agreed outputs for each RDA and common output definitions. Target levels are set through the corporate planning process and each RDA has the flexibility to set targets within the common framework based on the priorities for its region. The following table shows the total number of jobs directly attributable to RDA activity in 2002–03 against the Corporate Plan targets. This information has been previously published -1 refer the hon. Member to the statement I made on 7 July 2003. The figures are not split between new and safeguarded jobs.
	
		
			  2002–2003 Target 2002–2003 Achievement 
		
		
			 Advantage West Midlands 13,626 13,416 
			 East of England Development Agency 953 2,177 
			 East Midlands Development Agency 5,150 2,940 
			 London Development Agency 14,450 13,873 
			 Northwest Development Agency 14,532 16,764 
			 ONE NorthEast 7,449 7,774 
			 South East England Development Agency 2,066 3,107 
			 South West of England Regional Development Agency 6,450 6,508 
			 Yorkshire Forward 10,500 10,888 
		
	
	All of the above information is taken from each RDA's Annual Report and Accounts, which the eight RDAs outside London are required to produce, and are laid in Parliament. Copies are available in the Libraries of the House. The London Development Agency also produces an Annual Report and Accounts, which is not required to be laid in Parliament, but is available on the LDA's website.
	1 The London Development Agency was not established until July 2000 and the LDA first reported outputs in 2001–2002.

Regulations

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many regulations were (a) removed and (b) reformed pursuant to the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994 in each year since 1994; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: 52 Deregulation Orders were made under the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act between 1994 and 2001, when the Act was superseded by the Regulatory Reform Act. Each of the Orders made under the 1994 Act amended an individual Act of Parliament to remove regulatory burdens.

Regulations

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 3 March, Official Report, columns 963–64W, on business regulation, what the findings were of the 2002 Small Business Service research into the impact of the Climate Change Levy on small businesses; and what specific measures were introduced to reduce the regulatory burden for small businesses as a result.

Nigel Griffiths: The reports overall conclusion was as follows:
	'In general the impact of the CCL of SMEs does not appear to be significant, compared with other general business concerns.'

Regulations

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much was spent on regulatory issues emanating from the EU in each year between 1997 and 2007; and how much full-time equivalent staff time in her Department was spent on EU regulations in each year.

Nigel Griffiths: The Department does not record the cost of or the number of staff required for negotiating and implementing regulatory issues emanating from Europe. The length of negotiation and implementation varies enormously from policy to policy and it would be hard to obtain a meaningful figure. Collating such figures would incur a disproportionate cost.

Renewable Energy

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what mechanisms are in place to ensure that electricity supply companies purporting to supply set percentages from renewable sources actually do so.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 18 March 2004
	Licensed electricity suppliers are required to provide Ofgem with evidence of their compliance with the Renewables Obligation by a specified date after the end of each Obligation period.
	Ofgem implements a number of measures to assess the accuracy of the information received.

Renewable Energy

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent assessment she has made of the ability of renewable energy sources to meet an increase in demand for electricity over the next decade.

Stephen Timms: All estimates of the ability of renewable sources to meet a part of future supply take account of predicted changes in future energy demand.
	The target of 10 per cent. electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2010 was supported by detailed modelling for the Energy White Paper. This accounted for a future increase in electricity consumption of approximately 4.3 per cent. from 2002, on the basis of increased demand but also increased energy efficiency. Therefore the target is based upon 10 per cent. of predicted consumption in 2010 rather than 10 per cent. of consumption in 2002.
	Beyond this it is our aspiration that 20 per cent. of total electricity consumption will come from renewable sources by 2020. The recently completed 'Renewables Innovation Review' provided assessments of the potential future contributions of various technologies. This will help inform the review of our primary support mechanism, the 'Renewables Obligation', in 2005–06 to ensure that our targets are met, accounting for changes in future energy demand.

Science/Technology (Promotion)

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in joint working with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the promotion of UK science, engineering and technology.

Patricia Hewitt: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Middlesborough South and East Cleveland (Dr. Kumar) on 20 November 2003, Official Report, column 1443W.
	Subsequently, my Department's Innovation Report has been published and I am confident that the measures we have set out in Chapter 7, 'Global Links', of the Report will lead to wider co-ordination on the international innovation agenda across Government which builds on the work already undertaken by the Chief Scientific Adviser's Committee (CSAIC) chaired by the Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir David King, and the International Science Technology Trade and Investment Committee (ISTTIC) chaired by the UKTI Chief Executive, Sir Stephen Brown.
	The report also identifies specific initiatives, such as 'Global Watch', which will be expanded to help raise the international competitiveness of UK industry and commerce.

Small Businesses

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will place a copy of the Small Business Survey 2003 in the Library.

Nigel Griffiths: A copy of the final report of the Small Business Survey 2003 will be placed in the Libraries of the House, when the report is published by the Small Business Service in summer 2004.

Small Businesses

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  how many proposed regulations have been aborted as a result of the Small Firms Impact Test;
	(2)  if she will list the proposed regulations which have been aborted as a result of the Small Firms Impact Test.

Nigel Griffiths: The Department does not keep records on the reasons for a policy proposal not proceeding.

Vibration White Finger

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress is being made to resolve outstanding vibration white finger claims for compensation from former employees of British Coal who have suffered from pre-1975 exposure to vibratory tools and who were employed in a Group 3 occupation.

Nigel Griffiths: There have been lengthy discussions, between the Department and the Claimants Solicitors Group, in an attempt to resolve the areas of pre 1975 exposure to vibratory tools and the treatment of low levels of exposure (which falls below the level identified by the Court of Appeal as that which makes British Coal liable).
	Both the Department and the CSG accept that further discussions are unlikely to settle the issues and have invited the Court to rule on these areas. The court hearing has been listed for 15 and 16 April 2004.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Sexual Offences Act

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional resources have been allocated to police forces to bring prosecutions for internet grooming under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

Paul Goggins: The grooming offence in section 15 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 will enable the authorities to intervene before the sexual abuse of a child takes place.
	Between 2000–01 and 2004–05 the policing provision for England and Wales increased by £2.3 billion. While child protection is a priority within the National Policing Plan it is for the police themselves to decide how this additional money is allocated.

Identity Cards

Ross Cranston: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effects of a national identity card scheme on the problem of illegal working.

David Blunkett: Identity cards will provide a clear indication of a person's identity and in the case of foreign nationals their entitlement to work. They will give the vast majority of legitimate employers a simpler and more reliable way of complying with the law. Cards will also make enforcement activity against unscrupulous employers more effective.

Anti-social Behaviour

Jane Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans his Department has to support the gating of alleys to tackle anti-social behaviour.

Fiona Mactaggart: On 5 March we launched "Operation Gate it"—a new fund to tackle anti-social behaviour in alleyways. This fund is in partnership with Groundwork UK and the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers. It will run from April this year to March 2006.
	Gating is just one of many solutions to these problems however and will not always be appropriate. So, through "Gate It", local communities will be able to bid for lighting/landscaping/CCTV funding—as well as gates.

Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the operation of section 55 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.

Beverley Hughes: Section 55 of the Nationality Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 prevents the National Asylum Support Service from providing support to applicants who do not apply for asylum as soon as reasonably practicable after their arrival in the UK. It is designed to tackle abuse of the asylum system and is one of a package of measures which has contributed to the substantial reduction in asylum claims.

Street Crime (Castle Point)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will visit Canvey Island to discuss levels of street crime.

Hazel Blears: The Home Secretary has no immediate plans to do so.

Internet Pornography

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to tackle websites hosted outside the UK which contain child pornography and other images of abuse.

Paul Goggins: UK law enforcement agencies make every effort to take down sites hosting illegal images, prosecute those responsible, and disrupt supporting functions such as payment mechanisms.
	The Government continue to discuss these issues with our international partners, including during the Home Secretary's recent visit to the US.

Immigration (Eastern Europe)

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigrants came to the UK from Eastern Europe in the last 12 months.

Beverley Hughes: Estimates of total international migration produced by the Office for National Statistics are compiled from a range of survey and administrative sources. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is unable to provide a reliable estimate of the immigration of Eastern European nationals to the UK for the latest year for which data are available (2002), as the low sample sizes in the main survey source (the International Passenger Survey) result in such an estimate being subject to a high degree of error. For the last three years, 2000–02, combined it is estimated that 49,900 Eastern European citizens migrated to the UK.

Police (CBRN Training)

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers, and from how many constabularies, have been trained at the police Nuclear, Chemical, Biological and Radiological Establishment at Winterbourne Gunner.

Hazel Blears: Over 5,000 UK police officers nationally have now received training in responding to a CBRN incident. The majority of these have been trained by the Police National CBRN Centre. The numbers of officers trained consist of police personnel from all UK police forces, including the Metropolitan Police who have their own training facility.

Prisons

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what meetings he has had with Prison Service managers to discuss the situation in prisons.

Paul Goggins: As Minister for Correctional Services I meet with Prison Service managers on a very regular basis and discuss a wide range of issues relating to the situation in prisons.

Asylum Seekers

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers from Zimbabwe were refused asylum in the UK (a) in 2002–03 and (b) since April 2003; and how many failed asylum seekers have been deported to Zimbabwe in each period.

Beverley Hughes: The following table shows the number of asylum applications and initial decisions for nationals of Zimbabwe (excluding dependants) in (a) 2002–03 and (b) for each month between April 2003 and December 2003, the latest period for which published data are available. Initial decisions do not necessarily relate to applications received in the same period.
	
		Applications received for asylum in the United Kingdom, excluding dependants, and initial decisions(5) , (6) , (7), nationals of Zimbabwe -- Principal applicants
		
			   Initial decisions considered under normal procedures 
			  Applications received Total initial decisions Grants of asylum Grants of ELR Grants of HP Grants ofDL Total refusals 
		
		
			 2002–03 7,220 6,405 2,385 85 n/a n/a 3,930 
			 April 2003 335 310 90 n/a — 5 215 
			 May 2003 230 430 95 n/a 5 * 330 
			 June 2003 250 405 90 n/a — * 315 
			 July 2003 285 285 50 n/a — 5 230 
			 August 2003 185 270 35 n/a — * 235 
			 September 2003 240 345 50 n/a — 5 290 
			 October 2003 265 335 55 n/a — — 280 
			 November 2003 220 360 40 n/a — 5 320 
			 December 2003 200 250 25 n/a — * 230 
		
	
	(5) Figures are provisional and rounded to the nearest five, with *= 1 or 2.
	(6) Decision figures do not necessarily relate to applications received in the same period.
	(7) Information is of initial determination decisions, excluding the outcome of appeals or other subsequent decisions.
	The following table shows the available data, for outcomes of adjudicator appeals at the Immigration Appellate Authority (IAA) for nationals of Zimbabwe in (a) 2002–03 and (b) for each month between April 2003 and December 2003, the latest period for which published data is available. Appeals may relate to initial decisions made in earlier periods. Corresponding information on appeals to the Immigration Appellate Tribunal (IAT) relating to Zimbabwean nationals (including appeals made by the Secretary of State) is not available and could be produced only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case files.
	
		Outcome of appeals(8) , (9) determined by adjudicators of the Immigration Appellate Authority, excluding dependants, nationals of Zimbabwe -- Number of principal appellants
		
			  Appeals determined by adjudicators 
			   Allowed Dismissed Withdrawn 
			  Total determined Total As percentage of determined Total As percentage of determined Total As percentage of determined 
		
		
			 2002–03 2,785 1,010 36 1,635 59 140 5 
			 April 2003 380 115 31 250 66 10 3 
			 May 2003 405 115 29 265 65 25 6 
			 June 2003 315 95 30 205 64 20 6 
			 July 2003 405 145 36 245 60 15 4  
			 August 2003 305 70 23 220 72 15 5 
			 September 2003 400 105 26 280 70 15 4 
			 October 2003 375 105 28 260 69 15 3 
			 November 2003 345 80 23 250 72 15 5  
			 December 2003 330 80 24 245 74 10 2 
		
	
	(8) Provisional figures rounded to nearest five (except percentages), with '*' = 1 or 2. Figures may not add up due to independent rounding. Data on appeal outcomes by nationality in this table are derived from Immigration and Nationality Directorate electronic sources.
	(9) Figures include cases withdrawn by the Home Office, as well as the appellant.
	Deportations are a specific subset of removals alongside persons subject to administrative removal, removal due to illegal entry action or those refused entry at port and subsequently removed.
	Estimates of the number of nationals of Zimbabwe who had sought asylum at some stage and who were removed from the UK between April 2002 and September 2003 (the latest date for which figures are available) are shown in the following table. These figures include persons departing 'voluntarily' after the initiation of enforcement action against them, persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Returns Programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration and removals to a safe third country.
	
		Removals and voluntary(10) departures of principal asylum applicants (excluding dependants), nationals of Zimbabwe(11) , (12) , (13)
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2002–03 100 
			 April to June 2003 15 
			 July to September 2003 20 
		
	
	(10) Includes persons departing "voluntarily" after enforcement action had been initiated against them, persons leaving under Assisted voluntary return programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration, and removals on safe third country grounds.
	(11) Figures rounded to the nearest five and may not sum to total due to rounding.
	(12) Data have been estimated due to data quality issues.
	(13) Provisional figures.
	Removal of failed asylum seekers to Zimbabwe was suspended on 15 January 2002; we did not at the time consider that it was unsafe to return them but in view of the rapidly changing circumstances it was appropriate not to enforce returns. The suspension has been maintained since that date and although we still consider it would not be unsafe to return failed asylum seekers there, enforced returns would be inappropriate in the wider context of the Government's position on Zimbabwe. An exception to the suspension policy in cases where a failed asylum seeker has a serious criminal record or their presence in the United Kingdom is not otherwise conducive to the public good was announced on 5 February 2004. In such circumstances enforced return to Zimbabwe would be considered by Ministers on a case by case basis.
	Information on asylum applications, initial decisions, appeals and removals are published quarterly. The current publication covering the fourth quarter of 2003, and provisional 2003 data, are available on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html. Data on the nationality of removals are published a quarter in arrears. Data for the final quarter of 2003 will be published at the end of May.

Departmental Communications

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff are employed in the Department to work in the communications field, broken down by (a) Government Information and Communication Service staff and (b) other staff, broken down by (i) press officers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) others.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Home Office employs four Special Advisers. The Special Advisers' Code of Conduct sets out the sort of work a special adviser may undertake on behalf of their Minister. This includes communications activity.
	Details of other staff employed to work in the communications field are as follows:
	
		
			  Government Information and Communication Service staff Press Officers Others 
		
		
			 Communication Directorate (14)86 1 (15)167 
			 Research, Development and Statistics Directorate 0 0 7 
			 Total 86 1 174 
		
	
	(14) Press Officers are also GICS members and have been included in the Government Information Communication Service staff figure. There is only one non-GICS member of staff on secondment to the Press Office.
	(15) Includes six staff employed in policy units and 76 in customer communications.
	Details of the numbers of staff employed in the communication field in the wider Home Office are not held centrally and could not be collected without disproportionate cost.

Departmental Communications

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total expenditure on communications for the Department has been in 2003–04, broken down by expenditure on (a) Government Information and Communications Service staff and (b) other staff, broken down by (i) press officers.(ii) special advisers and (iii) others.

Fiona Mactaggart: Expenditure on communications in 2003–04 within the Home Office's Communication and Research, Development and Statistics Directorates is estimated as follows:
	
		£
		
			  Government Information and Communication Service staff Press Officers Other 
		
		
			 Communication Directorate 3,427 25,000 (16)4,031,000 
			 Research Development and Statistics Directorate 0 0 111,000 
			 Total 3,427 25,000 4,142,000 
		
	
	(16) Includes costs of six staff employed in policy units and 76 in customer communications.
	Details of expenditure on communications beyond these two directorates are not held centrally and could not be collected without disproportionate cost.
	The Home Office employs four Special Advisers. Details of the costs of Special Advisers are given on an annual basis. Information for the financial year 20003–04 will be published in due course.

Youth Justice Board

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints his Department has received about the operation of the Youth Justice Board since its inception.

Paul Goggins: I am not aware of any complaints having been received about the operation of the Youth Justice Board since its inception.

Departmental Scientific Adviser

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department has a chief scientific adviser.

Fiona Mactaggart: Professor Paul Wiles was appointed Home Office Chief Scientific Adviser in November 2002 and reports directly to the Permanent Secretary.
	The key functions of the Chief Scientific Officer are:
	To be the senior adviser to Ministers and the Group Executive Board on all matters concerning science.
	To provide assurance that the overall scientific work of the Department is managed so that it serves the Home Office's purpose, aims and delivery.
	To ensure that the Department makes appropriate use of the external research community: including mechanisms to ensure that all the scientific work for, or by the Department is of appropriate quality and relevance.
	To ensure that all matters concerning the professional skills, development and training of staff occupying specialist scientific grades are properly conducted.
	To represent the Department on cross-Whitehall scientific groups, such as the Chief Scientific Advisers Committee.
	In addition, the Police Scientific Development Branch and the Research, Development and Statistics Directorate are line managed by the Chief Scientific Adviser.

Drinking Water

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what his Department's policy is on the provision of drinking water in HM young offenders institutions for (a) staff and (b) inmates; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what his Department's policy is on the provision of drinking water in HM Prisons for (a) staff and (b) inmates; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: All prison establishments have facilities to provide drinking water from the mains supply. Although access points may vary in establishments, drinking water is generally available in accommodation wings and other prisoner areas such as healthcare, gym, workshops and visits. Staff working in these areas would also have access to drinking water as well as having provision in staff areas such as messes and changing areas.
	Policy on access to drinking water facilities and the provision of additional facilities (for example water coolers for staff) is a matter for individual governing governors.

Firearms Legislation

Martin Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  when he will publish the consultation paper for the Home Office Review of firearms legislation;
	(2)  what the purpose is of his Department's review of firearms legislation;
	(3)  how long will be allowed for the consultation on his Department's review of firearms legislation;
	(4)  what representations he has received regarding the current law on firearms in the last three months;
	(5)  which stakeholder organisations he plans to meet to discuss the review of firearms legislation;
	(6)  what discussions he has had with the police regarding the Department's review of firearms legislation;
	(7)  what principles guide the Home Office's relations with stakeholders with regard to firearms legislation;
	(8)  with which organisations he has discussed the Home Office review of firearms legislation.

Caroline Flint: We will be publishing a consultation paper shortly as the first step in a comprehensive review of our firearms controls to ensure they meet current needs and reduce the risk of guns getting into the wrong hands. We believe that any system of regulation must be robust, efficient and effective but should not place unnecessary burdens on those who administer and enforce the law or who possess guns for reasons allowed by the law.
	In drawing up the consultation paper there have been no formal discussions with interested parties although it will seek to reflect a range of issues which have been raised in the past by representative bodies and in public correspondence. We are interested in receiving views from everybody with an interest in the future regulation of firearms and want an open debate of the issues. A period of three months will be allowed for responses.

Heroin

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the penalties for (a) possession and (b) use of heroin.

Caroline Flint: There are no current plans to amend the penalties for the possession of heroin. While the possession of heroin is a criminal offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, use or consumption of the drug is not.

Illegal Immigration

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to prevent people falsely claiming to be students for immigration purposes from entering the UK.

Beverley Hughes: Overseas nationals seeking to enter the UK must prove that they meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules as students. Visa officers and immigration officers are supported in making decisions by intelligence networks. In particular, a joint initiative between the home office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office/UKvisas has seen special risk assessment units set up to increase our ability to identify and tackle all forms of visa abuse at key British Embassies.

Internet Fraud

Phil Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to combat fraud on the internet.

Caroline Flint: The Home Office works with the police and industry to tackle fraud and other online crime.
	In January we launched a website to combat fraud over the internet and last October, together with the British Bankers' Association and the Association of Payment and Card Services we issued advice to customers on how to avoid falling victim to online fraudsters.

Management Consultants

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost to his Department of using management consultants has been in each of the last five years.

Fiona Mactaggart: The available information held by the Home Office on the cost of using external consultants in each of the financial years; 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02 and 2002–03 is as follows:
	
		£
		
			 Financial year Cost of using external consultants 
		
		
			 1998–99 4,588,445 
			 1999–2000 10,302,672 
			 2000–01 27,877,286 
			 2001–02 21,147,058 
			 2002–03 n/a 
		
	
	We do not hold information on the cost to the Home Office of using external consultants for 2002–03 and to obtain this information would incur disproportionate cost.
	It is not possible to detail the benefits accrued by the Department to expenditure in a specific year but I am able to summarise the benefits of using external consultants in this period.
	The use of external consultants has helped the Department to successfully deliver projects across the office, which has resulted in improved business processes. A further benefit has been the transfer of specialist skills and knowledge to staff. The Department has also benefited from strategic business advice, which has shaped the strategy for combining the separate personnel, finance and procurement projects into an integrated project (Adelphi). This work has informed the development of business change that Adelphi is implementing across the Department and provide accurate management information.
	The increase in expenditure on external consultancy in 2000–01 was primarily, due to costs incurred on the Home Office modernisation programme, in particular Information Technology (IT) related consultancy.
	The high spend figures for 2001–02 includes the cost of setting up the National Probation Directorate and various consultancies on IT business change.
	The main areas of expenditure and the benefits that have accrued are summarised as follows:
	Within the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) the use of management consultants has done much to improve business processes. Examples of projects, which could not have been successfully delivered without the project management experience and skills provided by consultants, are:
	New Detection technology, deployed in Calais at the end of 2002 and subsequently at other locations;
	The introduction of the Application Registration Card;
	Support to the improvement of removal performance;
	Evaluation of the Fast Track Appeals Process, and subsequent assistance in improving the process.
	Criminal Justice IT has utilised consultants across all Directorates since start up. This has helped the unit to achieve a position of excellence in the IT delivery area quickly. The benefits of this position are already being felt across the Criminal Justice System as a whole, as well as within the individual strategic programmes. It has also resulted in a knowledge transfer process being put in place as consultants are replaced by civil servants.

National Offender Management Service

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the timetable is for the establishment of the National Offender Management Service.

Paul Goggins: An implementation team has been established and preparations for a detailed programme of work is under way.
	The National Offender Management Service will come into being from 1 June 2004 and it is anticipated that all the necessary changes will have been implemented within five years.

Police Cells

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether HM Chief Inspector of Prisons has the authority to carry out inspections of police cells when they are being used to hold prisoners under Operation Safeguard.

Paul Goggins: Operation Safeguard is currently not active. Any prisoner held in police cells is held under the 1980 Imprisonment (Temporary Provisions) Act. In line with this act, prisoners held in police cells are in the custody of the Chief Police Officer of the region and not subject to prison rules or the Prison Act 1952. The Chief Police Officer will therefore be responsible for the welfare of any prisoners. The Chief Inspector of Prisons could, however, at the invitation of the Chief Police Officer concerned attend at a police station and comment on the conditions in which such prisoners are kept and their treatment.

Prisoners

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) women and (b) men were being held in prison on 11 March; how many prisoners were released on early release on 11 March; how many prisoners were eligible for early release on 11 March; and how many prisoners were released on 11 March.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 16 March 2004
	On 11 March 2004 there were 4,555 females and 70,414 males being held in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales.
	Information on the number of prisoners who were released on early release, the number of prisoners who were eligible for early release and the number of prisoners who were released on 11 March 2004 is not yet available.

Probation

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders undergoing Probation Service accredited programmes (a) breached the programme and (b) were sentenced to custody as a consequence of a breach in each of the last two financial years.

Paul Goggins: During 2001–02 a total of 3,962 offenders undergoing accredited programmes failed to complete, of which 1,425 (36 per cent.) were because of breach. As a percentage of those dropouts recorded in 2002–03, breaches accounted for 37 per cent.
	Offenders may not have completed their programme due to failure to complete other aspects of supervision, not necessarily due to failure to complete the programme itself.
	Data on the exact number of offenders undergoing National Probation Service accredited programmes who were sentenced to custody as a consequence of a breach is unavailable. At present we only monitor outcomes by sentence and not content. The introduction of Interim Accredited Programme Software later this year will facilitate to the monitoring of sentence by outcomes.
	The number of offenders who were sentenced to immediate custody for breaches of community sentences in 2001 was 8,094. In 2002 the number was 9,071.

Research and Statistics Directorate

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many people are employed by his Department's Research and Statistics Directorate; and how many employees there were in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many research projects have been undertaken by (a) in-house researchers in the Research and Statistics Directorate and (b) external contractors in each year since 1997.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Research, Development and Statistics Directorate (RDS) is the main Home Office resource to support performance measurement and delivery of social research and analysis essential to building the evidence base for policy development. The available information on staffing and projects undertaken by RDS are shown in the tables.
	During the period 1997 to 2004, RDS has evolved and created new teams. This has been in response to the need to meet demands for faster collection and analysis of more comprehensive performance data as well as to carry out more timely and targeted research, particularly in the areas of crime reduction, drugs and alcohol, immigration and communities research as well as enhancing the capacity for economic analysis and modelling.
	Some of the projects identified will carry forward into two or more years and are included in the figures for both years. Projects undertaken by RDS can vary in size, complexity and scope. In addition to this RDS responds to regular ad-hoc requests for R and D advice from both within the Home Office and from external organisations.
	
		Table 1: Staff compliment for the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate—1997–98 to 2003–04
		
			  Number of staff RDS compliment 
		
		
			 1997–8 260 
			 1998–9 260 
			 1999–2000(17) 280 
			 2000–01(18) 360 
			 2001–02(19) 375 
			 2002–03(20) 435 
			 2003–04 445 
			 Current 422 in post 
		
	
	(17) The 1999–2000 figures reflect re-structuring of Social Research within the Home Office; the Police Research Group (40 staff) joined together with the Research and Statistics Directorate to form the new Research, Development and Statistics Directorate (RDS). At the same time, 15 staff from Co-ordinating Computing in Criminal Justice System moved out of RDS.
	(18) The 2000–01 figure includes a new team that was set up to support evaluation of the crime reduction programme. There was also a new programme to expand the evidence base for Immigration research and voluntary/community research.
	(19) In 2001–02 the Machinery of Government changes resulted in the movement of Fire Statistics to Department of Environment, Transport and Regions (now Office of the Deputy Prime Minister).
	(20) The 2002–03 figure reflects the establishment of a new team to support research into drugs and alcohol research, in particular supporting the development of the Drugs Strategy and further development of the Immigration Research programme and in the capacity for economic analysis.
	All totals are based on the RDS complement and are full-time equivalents.
	
		Table 2: Number of Research Projects undertaken by (a) in-house researchers and (b) through external contractors in the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate 1998–99–2003–04
		
			  In-houseresearchprojects Externally contractedresearch projects 
		
		
			 1998–99 (21)56 (21)45 
			 1999–2000 (21)120 (21)65 
			 2000–01 (21)106 (22)137 
			 2001–02 (21)108 (22)283 
			 2002–03 (21)171 (22)294 
			 2003–04 (21)212 (22)222 
		
	
	(21) The figures for these years are based on a manual count of projects in the Research Development and Statistics Directorate (RDS) business plan.
	(22) The figures are based on a central record of RDS external contracts

Sentencing Guidelines

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he will ensure that victims' views are taken into account by the criminal justice system when he sets sentencing guidelines.

Paul Goggins: The Criminal Justice Act 2003 established the Sentencing Guidelines Council to provide sentencing guidelines for all courts. The Council includes four non-judicial members, one of whom must have experience of "the promotion of the welfare of the victims of crime". Teresa Reynolds from Victim Support has been appointed to fulfil this role.
	The victim Personal Statement scheme, introduced in October 2001, provided victims with the opportunity to explain the full extent of the consideration to the contents of the statement when sentencing an offender, although the opinion of the victim as to the specific sentence will not be taken into account.
	In cases where the offender is given a life sentence for murder, the family of the victim have the opportunity to make personal statements, which should be taken into account by the courts when setting the minimum term to be served.

Sex Offences (Peterborough)

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on how decisions are taken to allocate those accused of sex offences to the bail hostel in Peterborough.

Paul Goggins: In common with all 100 approved probation and bail hostels, Peterborough Approved Premises accepts a range of residents, including those on bail or convicted of sexual offences. The decision to admit anyone to an approved premises is only taken after careful consideration of the risks. This includes the risk to the local community. If any of the risk is assessed as too high then no place is offered. Even if a place is offered by the approved premises, this decision then has to be endorsed by the court, a prison governor or the Parole Board.

Young Offenders

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of young offenders has been diagnosed as suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in the last five years.

Paul Goggins: We do not have this information at national level but a number of steps are being taken to understand and provide access to treatment for this condition. Research on prevalence and effective practice is being conducted at six sites; youth offending teams have health workers who assess and make referrals, with the support of a specialist mental health screening tool; the Youth Justice Board has issued guidance on mental health practice and is developing training for Youth Offending Teams. The Youth Justice Board, Department of Health and Prison Service are working jointly on improving access to health services within the youth justice system.

DEFENCE

Anti-anthrax Vaccines

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research his Department has carried out on the health effects of anti-anthrax vaccines given to military personnel and medical auxiliaries involved in (a) Operation Granby in the Gulf War against Iraq in 1991 and (b) Operation Telic in Iraq in 2003.

Ivor Caplin: No research has been carried out specifically on the possible adverse health effects of the anthrax vaccine given to personnel involved in Operation Granby or Operation Telic.
	However, the results of a research project on the safety of the anthrax vaccine in randomly selected military personnel due to be deployed on Operation Bolton were published in the journal, "Vaccine", in 2003 (Vaccine vol.21 2003 pp 1348–13 54). The study was funded by the Ministry of Defence, but the MOD had no editorial input into its conduct, methodology, or findings. No serious side effects were observed, and the study concluded that the modest incidence of side effects supported the stance that the anthrax vaccination is safe.

Arctic Campaign Veterans

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will introduce a medal for those servicemen who served on the Arctic convoys to Russia during the Second World War.

Ivor Caplin: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 1 March 2004, Official Report, columns 595–96, to my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen).

Armoured Battlegroup Support Vehicle

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost of the Armoured Battlegroup Support Vehicle; and when he expects this vehicle to enter service.

Adam Ingram: No decisions have yet been made on the numbers and types of vehicles required for the Armoured Battlegroup Support Vehicle role, nor have final decisions been taken on the procurement route to be adopted. Consequently, overall programme costs are not certain at this time. The in-service date for this project will not be set until the programme passes its main gate.

Armoured Battlegroup Support Vehicle

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on the procurement of the Armoured Battlegroup Support Vehicle; and when he expects to make a decision on the awarding of the contract.

Adam Ingram: A preliminary assessment has been made of the options to meet the Armoured Battlegroup Support Vehicle requirement, including the feasibility of converting surplus Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicles to this role. There are no plans for early contract award.

Armoured Battlegroup Support Vehicle

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the role of the proposed Armoured Battlegroup Support Vehicle will be.

Adam Ingram: It is planned that Armoured Battlegroup Support Vehicle (ABSV) will be employed as a support vehicle within armoured battlegroups, where its use alongside Warrior and Challenger 2 will improve the coherence of, and ease support to, those fighting units. Potential roles for the ABSV include armoured personnel carrier, ambulance, and command vehicles.

Armoured Battlegroup Support Vehicle

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what effect the proposed future rapid effects system has had on the future requirement for the Armoured Battlegroup Support Vehicle.

Adam Ingram: The Future Rapid Effect System (FRES) programme has had no significant impact upon the requirement for the Armoured Battlegroup Support Vehicle (ABSV). It is intended that FRES will be employed primarily within future medium weight forces, while ABSV will be employed primarily within the existing heavy force.

Budget Holders

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list his Department's top level budget holders and their related management groups for the financial years (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04.

Geoff Hoon: The Management Grouping structure for the financial years 2002–03 and 2003–04 are as follows.
	
		
			 Top level budget Management groupings  
		
		
			 2002–03   
			 Commander-in-Chief Fleet Fleet  
			 General Officer Commanding (Northern Ireland) General Officer Commanding (Northern Ireland)  
			 Commander-in-Chief Land Command Field Army (Theatre Troops) 1(UK) Armoured Division 
			  2nd Division UK Support Command (Germany) 
			  3rd Division Joint Helicopter Command 
			  4th Division Land Support 
			  5th Division  
			 Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief RAF Strike Command 1 Group 3 Group 
			  2 Group Deputy Commander-in-Chief 
			
			 Chief of Joint Operations British Forces Cyprus British Forces Gibraltar 
			  Permanent Joint Headquarters Sovereign Base Areas Administration 
			  British Forces Falkland Islands  
			
			 Chief of Defence Logistics Defence Fuels Group Dep Chief of Defence Logistics 
			  Defence Communication Services Agency Defence Logistics Support HQ 
			   Defence Clothing and Textiles Agency 
			  DG Equipment Support (Land) Warship Support Agency 
			  DG Equipment Support (Air) Defence Storage and Distribution 
			  Director Land Service Ammunition Agency 
			  Defence Transport and Movements Agency British Forces Post Office 
			
			 2nd Sea Lord/Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command Flag Officer Training and Recruiting HQ 
			  Naval Secretary  
			
			 Adjutant General Army Personnel Centre Adjutant General 
			  Army Training and Recruiting Agency Army Programme 
			  Service Childrens Education General Staff 
			
			 Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief RAF Personnel and Training Command Personnel Management Agency Core HQ 
			  Training Group Defence Agency  
			
			 Central Personnel Director War Pensions Agency 
			  Pay and Personnel Agency Surgeon General 
			  Defence Vetting Agency Dep Chief Defence Staff (Personnel) 
			  Defence Export Services Org Defence Secondary Care Agency 
			  Finance Director Defence Dental Agency 
			  Defence Analytical Services Agency Defence Housing Executive 
			  Defence Bills Agency Defence Medical Training Org 
			  Chief Constable MOD Police Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency 
			  Chief Scientific Adviser  
			  Defence Estates Policy Director 
			  Dep Chief Defence Staff (Commitments) Dep Chief Defence Staff (Equipment Capability) 
			  Director Special Forces Chief of Defence Intelligence 
			  Defence Geographic and Imaging Intelligence Agency Defence Intelligence and Security Centre 
			
			 Defence Procurement Agency Internal Costs Programme Account 
			  Nuclear  
			
			 2003–04   
			 Commander-in-Chief Fleet Fleet  
			 General Officer Commanding (Northern Ireland) General Officer Commanding (Northern Ireland)  
			 Commander-in-Chief Land Command Command Field Army  
			  Joint Helicopter Command  
			  Land Support  
			  Command Regional Forces  
			
			 Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief RAF Strike Command 1 Group 3 Group 
			  2 Group Deputy Commander-in-Chief 
			
			 Chief of Joint Operations British Forces Cyprus British Forces Gibraltar 
			  Permanent Joint Headquarters Sovereign Base Areas Administration 
			  British Forces Falkland Islands 
			 Chief of Defence Logistics Defence Fuels Group Dep Chief of Defence Logistics 
			  Defence Communication Services Agency Defence Clothing & Textiles Agency 
			  DG Equipment Support (Land) Defence Supply Chain HQ 
			  DG Equipment Support (Air) Defence Storage and Distribution Agency 
			  Defence Transport and Movements Agency British Forces Post Office 
			   Warship Support Agency 
			
			 2nd Sea Lord/Commander-in-Chief Naval Home Command Flag Officer Training and Recruiting HQ 
			  Naval Secretary  
			
			 Adjutant General Army Personnel Centre Adjutant General 
			  Army Training and Recruiting Agency Army Programme 
			  Service Childrens Education General Staff 
			  Primary Health Care QVS 
			   DYRMS 
			
			 Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief RAF Personnel and Training Command Personnel Management Agency Core HQ 
			  Training Group Defence Agency  
			
			 Central Personnel Director Veterans Agency 
			  Pay and Personnel Agency Dep Chief Defence Staff (Personnel) 
			  Defence Vetting Agency Defence Dental Agency 
			  Defence Export Services Org Defence Housing Executive 
			  Finance Director Armed Forces Personnel 
			  Defence Analytical Services Agency Administration Agency 
			  Defence Bills Agency Policy Director 
			  Chief Constable MOD Police Dep Chief Defence Staff (Equipment Capability) 
			  Chief Scientific Adviser  
			  Defence Academy Chief of Defence Intelligence 
			  Defence Estates Defence Intelligence and Security Centre 
			  Dep Chief Defence Staff (Commitments) Defence Medical Services Department 
			   Defence Medical Education and Training Agency. 
			  Director Special Forces  
			  Defence Geographic and Imaging Intelligence Agency  
			
			 Defence Procurement Agency Internal Costs Programme Account 
			  Nuclear

Civilian Posts

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many (a) service and (b) of his Department's civilian posts have been transferred to the private sector in each year since 1997 for the (i) Royal Navy, (ii) Army and (iii) Royal Air Force;
	(2)  how many (a) Army, (b) Royal Navy, (c) Royal Air Force and (d) of his Department's civilian posts have been transferred to the private sector in each year since 1997.

Adam Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact of the accession of new members to NATO on the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: I have been asked to reply.
	We look forward to the new members joining NATO on 29 March. Bulgaria, Romania and Slovakia are already States Parties to the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovenia cannot join the CFE Treaty yet, but will be eligible to join the Adapted CFE Treaty when it comes into force. NATO Allies will not ratify the Adapted CFE Treaty until Russia has met the commitments it made to Georgia and Moldova at the OSCE Summit in Istanbul in November 1999. NATO Allies have made clear their intention to ratify the Adapted CFE Treaty once these commitments have been met and we hope that Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovenia will sign up to the Adapted CFE Treaty as soon as they are able to do so.

Deepcut Barracks

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many hours per week on average each Royal Logistic Corps trainee at Deepcut barracks was required to perform guard duty in the last year for which figures are available.

Adam Ingram: Detailed information on this is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, in line with individual training programmes each soldier undergoing phase 2 training at the Princess Royal Barracks Deepcut can expect to spend on average some 84 hours on guard duties.

Defence Intelligence Services

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the Defence Intelligence Services.

Geoff Hoon: The Defence Intelligence Staff (DIS) is an integral part of the Ministry of Defence and plays an essential role in achieving the UK's defence objectives. It is a key contributor to the successful prosecution of military operations. As emphasised in the recent Defence White Paper "Delivering Security in a Changing World", the strategic environment is increasingly uncertain and comprises a diverse range of threats which require intelligence-led responses.
	The DIS will therefore continue to be an important element of our overall defence capability.

Departmental Communications

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff are employed in the Department to work in the communications field, broken down by (a) Government Information and Communication Service staff and (b) other staff, broken down by (i) press officers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) others.

Ivor Caplin: As of 15 March 2004, there were 130 people employed within the communications organisation in the Ministry of Defence Headquarters. Of these, 24 are members of the Government Information and Communication Service. Of the remainder, seven work in the Press Office and the others are employed on a wide range of tasks including design, publicity, marketing, internal communications and strategic planning.
	Ministers in the department have two special advisers, neither of whom are members of the communications organisation. The Special Advisers' Code of Conduct sets out the sort of work a special adviser may undertake on behalf of their Minister and this includes communications activity.
	In addition to the above, a number of people are employed, either wholly or partly, in communications related work throughout defence. These include staff working in defence agencies, the permanent joint Headquarters, single service commands and individual military units. Accurate information on all of these posts is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Communications

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total expenditure on communications for his Department has been in 2003–04, broken down by expenditure on (a) Government Information and Communication Service staff and (b) other staff, broken down by (i) press officers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) others.

Ivor Caplin: The cost of staff employed within the communications organisation in the Ministry of Defence headquarters is expected to be in the region of £5.9 million for 2003–04; of this, around £1 million is attributable to members of the Government Information and Communication Service (GICS). Of the remainder, around £0.3 million relates to non-GICS staff in the press office and the balance of the cost is for staff employed on a wide range of tasks including design, publicity, marketing, internal communications and strategic planning.
	The Special Advisers' Code of Conduct sets out the sort of work a special adviser may undertake on behalf of their Minister and this includes communications activity. Details of the costs of special advisers are given on an annual basis. Information for the financial year 2003–04 will be published in due course.
	Costs for staff employed in communications elsewhere in the Department are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Drugs

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel tested positive for the use of each controlled substance, broken down by unit, in calendar year 2003.

Ivor Caplin: The number of positive results for the use of controlled substances in each of the Services in 2003 are shown in the following tables. In all cases, positive results indicate the number of substances detected, not necessarily the number of personnel. The Naval Service
	
		
			 Unit Cannabis Amphetamines Ecstasy Cocaine Heroin 
		
		
			 Ships  
			 HMS Argyle 1 
			 HMS Atherstone1  
			 HMS Brecon   1   
			 HMS Cardiff4  
			 HMS Enterprise1  
			 HMS Exeter 1  1 1  
			 HMS Glasgow  1 1   
			 HMS Gloucester   1   
			 HMS Invincible 1 1 1 1  
			 HMS Marlborough1  
			 HMS Richmond 1 
			 HMS Southampton 1 
			 HMS Westminster1  
			 HMS York   1 1  
			 Shore Establishments 
			 Britannia Royal Naval College1  
			 Directorate of Naval Recruiting 1 
			 HMS Collingwood   1 2 1 
			 HMS Drake 1   1 
			 HMS Dryad 1  2   
			 HMS Excellent 1 
			 HMS Forest Moor  1 1   
			 HMS Neptune 1 
			 HMS Raleigh 2 
			 HMS Sultan 1  1 1  
			 Submarines  
			 HMS Sceptre 1 
			 HMS Viligant1  
			 Royal Marines  
			 40 Commando RM 1   1  
			 42 Commando RM   1 1  
			 45 Commando RM1  
			 539 Assault Sqn RM 1 1  1  
			 Commando Logistic Regiment RM 2  1   
			 CTCRM Lympstone 1 
			 Force Protection Group RM 1  2 1  
			 RM Poole 1   1  
			 RMB Stonehouse 2 
			 Total 23 4 15 23 1 
		
	
	
		RAF
		
			 Station/Unit Cannabis Ecstasy 
		
		
			 RAF Leeming 1  
			 RAF Cosford  2 
			 RAF St. Athan 1  
			 RAF Coningsby 1  
			 RAF Uxbridge 1  
			 RAF Halton 3  
			 RAF Cottesmore 3  
			 RAF Wittering 1  
			 RAF Buchan 1  
			 RAF Marham 1  
			 RAF Benson  1 
			 RAF Lyneham 1  
			 RAF Kinloss  1 
			 RAF Leuchars 1  
			 DST Leconfield 1  
			 Totals 16 4 
		
	
	Army
	The Army do not record data in the same way as the other two Services. A detailed breakdown of positive results by substance detected is not held centrally. Centralised statistics are available only by corps and divisions of infantry which for 2003 are as follows:
	
		
			 Arm/Service Number of tests Positive results 
		
		
			 Bands 271 0 
			 RGR 1,041 0 
			 Int Corps 198 0 
			 AGC(ETS) and (SPS) 34 0 
			 Misc. 3,197 5 
			 AGC(Pro) 635 1 
			 HQs 2,356 4 
			 RAMC 1,281 3 
			 AAC 671 2 
			 R Signals 6,025 18 
			 Training units 28,921 118 
			 RE 6,214 27 
			 REME 3,178 14 
			 R Irish 1,587 7 
			 RA 6,169 31 
			 TA 3,084 18 
			 RLC 6,146 36 
			 Para 1,055 8 
			 GDS 3,596 34 
			 RAC 3,127 30 
			 Queens 2,169 22 
			 POW 3,551 40 
			 Light 1,489 18 
			 Kings 4,305 72 
			 Scottish 2,868 72 
			 Total 93,168 580

Eurofighter Typhoon

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to make a statement on Tranche Two of the Eurofighter.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 February 2004, Official Report, column 1634W to my hon. Friend the Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice).

Iraq

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what conditions are attached to the payment of compensation to Iraqi civilians who have lost relatives due to UK actions; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 30 January 2004
	Claims made by Iraqis for losses that do not arise in connection with combat operations are handled in accordance with the direction of the Coalition Provisional Authority—specifically Section 6 of CPA order number 17. This states that:
	'Third party claims including those for property loss or damage and for personal injury and death or in respect of any other matter arising form or attributing to Coalition personnel or any persons employed by them, whether normally resident in Iraq or not, and that do not arise in connection with military combat operations, shall be submitted and dealt with by the Parent State whose coalition personnel, property, activities or other assets are alleged to have caused the claimed damage, in a manner consistent with the national laws of the Parent State'.
	Hence, we will generally pay compensation in circumstances where the claims officer decides that, on the balance of probability, the claim would give rise to a legal liability under English Law.
	Iraqi claimants who are offered compensation are required to sign a declaration that:
	'I, name of claimant, agree to accept the sum of $xxxx in respect of the loss of my son/daughter/father/mother [name]. I understand and accept that this offer is made without admission of liability of behalf of the British contingent of the Coalition Forces in Iraq, and is a full and final settlement of all claims whatsoever relating to the incident that occurred on ddmmyyyy.'
	Liability is not admitted as to do so would set a precedent for further claims relating to the incident and future claims.
	This is not a liability waiver. Such a waiver would require those compensated to waive some legal rights—including the right to sue for personal injury or death. This type of waiver would normally be used for example when one is undertaking an adventurous activity that carries with it a high level of risk.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received of politically motivated killings within the British zone in Southern Iraq perpetrated by political groups represented within the Iraqi Governing Council.

Adam Ingram: We are not aware of any deaths within the UK area of responsibility in Southern Iraq, which have been attributed to a person or political group represented within the Iraqi Governing Council.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in relation to the deaths of which civilians in Iraq the UK Government has made ex-gratia payments to the families of the deceased; and how much has been paid in each case.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 11 February 2004
	I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on which dates and in relation to which individuals UK forces in Iraq have informed the International Committee of the Red Cross of confirmed civilian casualties which (a) have been caused and (b) are alleged to have been caused by UK forces.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 12 February 2004
	I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the house.

Iraq

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 19 January 2004, Official Report, column 919W, on Iraq, how many ex-gratia payments have been made to Iraqis regardless of legal liability, broken down by (a) amount and (b) reason for the payment in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 3 March 2004
	I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Iraq

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much fuel was purchased for UK forces in Iraq for each month since the inception of the war; from which (a) country and (b) company the fuel was purchased; and what the average price paid was.

Adam Ingram: Between August 2003 and February 2004, United Kingdom forces purchased the following amounts of fuel from Jassim Transport and Stevedoring Co WLL, Kuwait:
	
		
			  Diesel Unleaded 
			  Volume (litres) Cost (£) Volume (litres) Cost (£) 
		
		
			 August 2003 300,000 35,015 433,000 50,539 
			 September 2003 330,000 38,517 360,000 42,018 
			 October 2003 240,500 28,071 415,000 48,438 
			 November 2003 186,500 21,768 388,000 45,287 
			 December 2003 106,000 12,372 385,000 44,936 
			 January 2004 594,500 69,389 275,000 32,097 
			 February 2004 265,000 30,930 428,500 50,014 
			 Totals 2,022,500 236,062 2,684,500 313,329 
		
	
	No figures are available prior to this date as diesel and unleaded petrol were provided to UK forces through the US supply chain.
	The UK does not purchase aviation fuel for its forces in Iraq. This is supplied by the US, which has lead-nation responsibility in this area.

Iraq

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been paid to families of Iraqi civilians killed by UK personnel in Iraq.

Adam Ingram: I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the (a) age and (b) sex of those Iraqi civilians (i) whose deaths have been investigated by the Special Investigations Branch and (ii) whose deaths have resulted in the offer of ex gratia payments from the United Kingdom Government.

Adam Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Joint Strike Fighter

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much money the Government has spent on research and development of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF); and what the estimated date is for the delivery of the JSF to the Ministry of Defence.

Adam Ingram: To date, a total of £318 million has been spent on the Assessment (£144 million) and Demonstration (£174 million) phases of the Future Joint Combat Aircraft (FJCA) programme. This total includes our contributions to the JSF programme, as the means of meeting the FJCA requirement, and the costs associated with UK national activities.
	While no final decisions have been taken, the FJCA in service date, based on current planning assumptions, is forecast to be 2012 with first aircraft delivery in 2010.

Land Command

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the cost of maintaining United Kingdom Land Command headquarters at Wilton is for 2003–04;
	(2)  how many (a) service and (b) civilian personnel were employed at the United Kingdom Land Command headquarters in Wilton (i) in 2000, (ii) in 2001, (iii) in 2002 and (iv) at the latest available date.

Adam Ingram: The annual cost of maintaining Headquarters Land Command for the financial year 2003–04 is estimated at £50 million. This figure includes pay, utilities, IT and other costs of those elements at Wilton that form the Headquarters. Where possible, the costs of lodger units based at the site have been excluded.
	The numbers of military and civilian personnel included within the above costs are:
	
		
			  Military Civilian 
		
		
			 2001–01 537 626 
			 2001–02 532 630 
			 2002–03 413 639 
			 2003–04 360 625

Land Command

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many troops were under the command of UK Land Command in (a) 2002 and (b) 2003.

Adam Ingram: The number of troops under the command of Land Command in April 2003 and April 2004 was 73,030 and 77,580 respectively. The increase is primarily owing to the call out of reservists for operations overseas.

Post Office

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2004, from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions, Official Report, column 584W, on direct payment, how many (a) Post Office Card Accounts and (b) bank or building society accounts have (i) been requested for and (ii) are receiving payments of war pensions, broken down by region.

Ivor Caplin: The information is not available in the format requested as data is not recorded in individual regions.
	The Veterans Agency records show that as at 15 March the total number of requests for Post Office Card Accounts is 42,187 and for payment into a bank/building society, 57,953.
	The total number of customers who have converted to Post Office Card Accounts is 14,956. The total number of customers who have converted to a bank/building society is 57,947. The total number of war pensions paid by direct payment into an account (including Post Office Card Account) is 213,432, which represents 85.66 per cent. of the payload.

Regimental Records

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the search records of (a) the 7th City of Belfast battalion of the Ulster Defence Regiment, (b) the 10th City of Belfast battalion of the Ulster Defence Regiment, (c) the 3rd County Down battalion of the Ulster Defence Regiment and (d) the regular military units operating in their tactical area of responsibility are still held.

Adam Ingram: The search records of all military units in Northern Ireland are held in the Northern Ireland Search Report Archive and reports of any searches which did not produce a find are routinely destroyed after six years when the statute of limitation for claims runs out. Records of productive searches may be held indefinitely in the archives, therefore it is possible that some search reports dating prior to 1992, when the Ulster Defence Regiment disbanded, would still be held.

Heroes Return Scheme

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what support his Department is providing for the celebration of Heroes Return outside London.

Ivor Caplin: The New Opportunity Fund's 'Heroes Return' scheme, which forms part of the 'Veterans Reunited' programme, focuses on overseas visits for veterans, their spouses or widows and their carers. 'Heroes Return' will enable Second World War veterans resident in the United Kingdom, whether inside or outside London, to make overseas visits to commemorate the campaigns in which they participated.

Unexploded Ordnance

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the total amount of ordnance destroyed in the UK by controlled explosions was in the last five years; and what sorts of ordnance were involved.

Adam Ingram: During the period April 1999 to February 2004 the Ministry of Defence has arranged for the demilitarisation by incineration, open burning and open detonation of 11,492 tonnes (all up weight) of conventional munitions ranging from Small Arms Ammunition to Guided Weapons.

Unexploded Ordnance

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the life expectancy is of (a) Swingfire, (b) Milan and (c) artillery shells in war stocks; and what the policy of removal is.

Adam Ingram: The life of a munition is constantly under consideration and work is ongoing while in-service to ensure the nature remains safe and suitable for use. When missiles reach the end of their in-service life they are disposed of either through being used for training purposes, or if that is not possible through a demilitarisation programme. At present both Swingfire and Milan missiles have an in-service life of 17 years.
	Artillery shells are maintained to the required level of safety and in sufficient quantities to meet operational requirements. It is preferred to utilise artillery shells for training purposes rather than opting for disposal, thereby maximising their usefulness. Typically, the in service life of an Artillery Shell is a minimum of 10 years.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what joint programmes with other countries have been undertaken on (a) research and (b) building of unmanned aerial vehicles.

Adam Ingram: The UK is involved in 28 international research collaboration for a covering technology relevant to unmanned aerial vehicles. None of these are specific to UAVs. The UK has not undertaken any joint programmes with other countries on building UAVs.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Conferences

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many non-ministerial staff in his Department have attended conferences (a) in the UK and (b) abroad in the year to 29 February; and what the cost of attending these conferences was, broken down by (i) travel costs, (ii) food and drink, (iii) accommodation and (iv) miscellaneous costs.

Jack Straw: holding answer 18 March 2004
	The information required for this answer is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

East Africa

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will propose action to the UN Security Council to resolve the border dispute between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Chris Mullin: The UK, and other members of the Security Council, will continue to press Ethiopia and Eritrea to accept the Boundary Commission decision, which is final and binding, and begin a comprehensive political dialogue on all of the issues separating them. We have welcomed the appointment of the UN Special Envoy, Lloyd Axworthy, and are urging both parties to work with him on resolving their differences.

EU Enlargement

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his European counterparts on EU enlargement; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Mullin: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary often raises EU enlargement in his bilateral and other meetings with European counterparts and he regularly reaffirms the Government's support for enlargement.

European Council of Ministers

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  how many informal meetings of the European Council of Ministers took place (a) between 1 July and 31 December 2003 and (b) since 1 January; when these meetings took place; what topics were discussed at these meetings; what informal meetings are planned until 30 June; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many informal meetings of the European Council of Ministers took place (a) between 1 January and 30 June 2002, (b) 1 July 2002 and 31 December 2002, (c) 1 January and 30 June 2003 and (d) 1 July and 31 December 2003; when these meetings took place; what issues were discussed at each of these meetings; which members of the Scottish Executive were present at each meeting; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: Recent Presidencies have defined informal ministerial meetings differently in their official Presidency websites. The following list sets out those informal ministerial meetings which met to transact substantive business.
	The Spanish Presidency between 1 January and 30 June 2002 held 10 informal ministerial meetings, on the following dates and covering the following topics:
	25–26 January on Employment;
	9–10 February on Foreign Affairs (Gymnich Informal Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs);
	14–15 February on Justice and Home Affairs;
	22–23 February on Telecoms and the Information Society;
	23–24 March on Defence;
	13–14 April on Finance (ECOFIN);
	27–30 April on Agriculture and Fisheries;
	3–4 May on Tourism;
	24–26 May on Environment issues;
	31 May to 1 June on Transport.
	The Danish Presidency between 1 July and 31 December 2002 held eight informal ministerial meetings on the following dates and covering the following topics:
	12–13 July on Employment and Social Policy;
	19–21 July on Environment issues;
	1 September on Foreign Affairs (Gymnich Informal Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs);
	6–8 September on Finance (informal ECOFIN);
	8–10 September on Agriculture and Fisheries;
	12–13 September on Justice and Home Affairs;
	4–5 October on Defence;
	18–19 October on the Internal Market. Consumer Affairs and Industry.
	The Greek Presidency between 1 January and 30 June 2003 held 13 informal ministerial meetings, on the following dates and covering the following topics:
	24 January on Employment;
	22 February on Energy;
	1–2 March on Education;
	14–15 March on Defence;
	28–29 March on Justice and Home Affairs;
	4–6 April on Finance (informal ECOFIN Council);
	2–4 May on Environment;
	12–13 May on Agriculture and Fisheries;
	16–17 May on Regional Policy;
	16–18 May on Transport and Merchant Marine;
	24 May on Culture;
	6 June on Public Administration;
	12–13 June on Development Co-operation.
	The Italian Presidency between 1 July and 31 December 2003 held 18 informal ministerial meetings on the following topics:
	4–5 July on Transport and Infrastructure;
	6 July on Trade;
	10–12 July on Employment and Social Policies;
	11–12 July on Competitiveness;
	18–20 July on Environment and Energy;
	3–5 September on Telecommunications;
	5–6 September on General Affairs and External Relations;
	5–6 September on Health;
	12–13 September on Justice and Home Affairs;
	12–13 September on Economic and Financial Affairs (ECOFIN);
	20–23 September on Agriculture;
	1–2 October on Culture;
	3–4 October on Defence;
	20 October on Regional Policy;
	24 October on Development Co-operation;
	21 November on Consumer Policies;
	1 December on Civil Service;
	2 December on Trade.
	The Irish Presidency up to 8 March 2004 has held two informal ministerial meetings, on the following dates and covering the following topics:
	16–17 January on Employment and Social Policy;
	22–23 January on Justice and Home Affairs.
	13–14 April on Finance (ECOFIN);
	27–30 April on Agriculture and Fisheries;
	3–4 May on Tourism;
	24–26 May on Environment issues;
	31 May to 1 June on Transport.
	The Irish Presidency intends to hold five further informal ministerial meetings, on the following dates and covering the following topics:
	2–3 April on Economics and Finance (ECOFIN);
	5–6 April on Defence;
	16–17 April on Foreign Affairs (Gymnich);
	9–10 May on Agriculture;
	14–15 May on Environment.
	The Scottish First Minister, right hon. Jack McConnell, attended the Informal Council on Regional Policy on 20 October 2003. Ministers from each Devolved Administration attend formal Councils of particular interest to that Devolved Administration.
	I have written to the hon. Member on this issue and have placed a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Falkland Islands

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the availability of (a) charter and (b) scheduled flights to the Falkland Islands; and what plans Her Majesty's Government has to bring about an increase in the (i) capacity and (ii) frequency of flights to the Islands.

Bill Rammell: No charter flights are currently operating to and from the Falkland Islands. One weekly Lan Chile scheduled service operates between Chile and the Falkland Islands. There is also a regular flight between the UK and the Falkland Islands, via Ascension Island. The Falkland Island Development Corporation and Her Majesty's Government continue to look at ways of increasing the capacity and frequency of flights to the Falkland Islands.
	I refer the hon. Gentleman to my recent written statements of 19 January 2004, Official Report, columns 51–52WS and 1 March 2004, Official Report, columns 73–74WS.

Falkland Islands

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to Argentina about the introduction of an open skies policy on charter flights to the Falkland Islands; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: I discussed charter flights with Argentine Foreign Minister Bielsa during my recent visit to Argentina. I refer the hon. Gentleman to my written statement of 1 March on the issue of air links between the Falkland Islands and mainland South America, Official Report, columns 73–74WS.

Falkland Islands

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the Argentine Government's policy on use of its airspace by (a) charter and (b) scheduled flights to the Falkland Island originating in Chile.

Bill Rammell: The weekly Lan Chile flights between Chile and the Falkland Islands are covered by the UK/Argentina 1999 Joint Statement. On charter flights, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the written statement I made on 1 March on the issue of air links between the Falkland Islands and mainland South America, Official Report, columns 73–74WS.

Falkland Islands

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government not to enter into negotiations with the Government of Argentina on sovereignty of the Falkland Islands; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: It is the policy of Her Majesty's Government not to enter into negotiations with the Government of Argentina on sovereignty of the Falkland Islands. Her Majesty's Government have no doubts about their sovereignty of the Falkland Islands and their surrounding maritime areas.

Guatemala

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of progress in improving human rights in Guatemala.

Bill Rammell: 2003 was a poor year for human rights in Guatemala. There was much violence in the run up to the presidential elections in November and December 2003. However, we have noted positively the efforts President Berger has made since his inauguration on 14 January to improve human rights in Guatemala.
	Berger's first public act as President was to declare his commitment to the Guatemalan Peace Accords signed in 1996, and on 25 February he announced the establishment of a new national commission to oversee implementation of the Accords. Given the undertakings in the Peace Accords this should help improve the human rights in particular of indigenous groups. President Berger has appointed a respected human rights campaigner, Frank la Rue, as his Presidential Commissioner on Human Rights. I welcome this appointment.
	When I visited Guatemala in January, 1 stressed the importance of human rights issues to the new Vice-President. We have also encouraged the new Guatemalan Government to implement in full the 1996 Peace Accords. Our Embassy in Guatemala City will continue to monitor human rights closely.

Human Rights

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to support the (a) adoption and (b) implementation within an agreed timescale of the UN norms on the responsibilities of transnational corporations and other business enterprises with regard to human rights when it is forwarded to the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The Government are strong supporters of responsible business behaviour and are actively involved in initiatives to promote this. The Draft Norms raise complex issues because they purport to make business directly responsible for human rights. It is States which have obligations under international human rights law to ensure human rights to everyone within their territory and jurisdiction. We believe that States should remain responsible for domestic legislation to regulate the behaviour of private actors in their jurisdiction, including multinational companies. We also believe that according human rights obligations to private business enterprises in international law could be used by certain States to avoid their own obligations and to distract the focus from human rights abuses by States. We therefore believe that it would be detrimental to the advancement of international human rights law if the draft norms were to be adopted by the Commission on Human Rights. However, we shall be working with other Members of the Commission to try to identify a constructive process for addressing issues raised by the Norms, which would command wider acceptance among all stakeholders, including Governments and business as well as NGOs.

Iranian Nuclear Programme

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the (a) matters discussed and (b) outcome of the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors' consideration of the Iranian nuclear programme on 10–11 March.

Bill Rammell: Intensive discussions took place with our EU partners, the US and other members of the Board to produce an agreed text for a Resolution on the Iranian nuclear programme based on the report of the findings of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director-General. The Resolution was adopted by consensus on 13 March.
	The text of the Resolution can be found on the IAEA website at www.iaea.org.

Middle East

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of settlement activity in the West Bank and Gaza Strip in the past six months.

Bill Rammell: Expansion of settlements and building of outposts have continued in the last six months. As we have made clear, we consider all settlements in the Occupied Territories illegal under international law and an obstacle to a comprehensive peace in the region. The Government regularly presses the Israeli Government to freeze settlement activity and dismantle outposts in line with Israel's commitments under the roadmap.
	Both sides need to implement their obligations under the roadmap without delay. We welcome Prime Minister Sharon's reiteration of Israel's commitment to the roadmap and his subsequent announcement that he will remove settlements in Gaza. We would warmly welcome a withdrawal of settlers and the Israeli Defence Force from Gaza to Israel as part of implementation of the Roadmap.

Science Strategy

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to enhance science in his Department since the publication of the Government's science strategy Investing in Innovation.

Bill Rammell: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to his related question on 19 November 2003, Official Report, column 1058W.
	Since the publication of Investing in Innovation in July 2002 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has continued to expand its Science and Technology network in its posts overseas. There are now nearly 40 attachés in over 20 countries, plus other posts around the world, who are developing Science and Technology activities in support of FCO objectives. The network reports to a wide customer base and works with a number of UK organisations with an interest in Science and Technology overseas. These include Government Departments, parliamentary and devolved institutions, public sector bodies, universities, research and trade organisations and industry. Examples of the work done by the Science and Technology network include: a major campaign to promote UK biosciences in 2003 to mark the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the structure of DNA; lobbying to promote the UK position on cloning before the debates in the UN General Assembly; organising events to explain the science of climate change; and contributing to international negotiations on the site of the proposed International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor.
	The FCO works in close partnership with the Office of Science and Technology, the Department of Trade and Industry (especially its team of International Technology Promoters), UK Trade and Investment, the British Council and the Research Councils. The FCO Science and Technology network is working with partners to develop the international dimension of the Government's Innovation Strategy and Investment Framework for Science. The FCO is represented on two new Whitehall committees which have been set up to co-ordinate interests in international Science and Technology: the Chief Scientific Adviser's International Committee and the International Science Technology Trade and Investment Committee. The FCO will also take part in the new Ministerial Group on Innovation and the Knowledge Economy.

Tibet

Michael Trend: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department last made a statement to the House on the sovereignty of Tibet.

Bill Rammell: Successive British Governments have regarded Tibet as autonomous while recognising the special position of the Chinese authorities there. The then Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the late Derek Fatchett, stated our position during a debate in the House on 19 March 1999, Official Report, column 1463.

PRIME MINISTER

Departmental Officials

Jim Cousins: To ask the Prime Minister which former officials of his (a) Office and (b) policy unit have asked for permission to join (i) PricewaterhouseCoopers, (ii) Deloitte and Touche, (iii) Ernst and Young and (iv) KPMG.

Tony Blair: It is a matter of public record that Derek Scott has joined KPMG.

Honours

Bob Spink: To ask the Prime Minister how many honours nominations have been submitted in each of the last five years.

Tony Blair: Nominations for honours are received in a number of ways, notably through the Nominations Unit in the Cabinet Office or through Government Departments. The information requested is not held centrally.

Honours

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister how many people resident in the constituencies of (a) Pendle, (b) Burnley, (c) Ribble Valley, (d) Hyndburn, (e) Rossendale and (f) Blackburn have received an honour in each year since 1997.

Tony Blair: The information requested is not held centrally.

Hunting with Dogs

Phil Sawford: To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to propose legislation on the issue of hunting with dogs.

Tony Blair: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Colchester (Bob Russell) at Prime Minister's Questions on 3 December 2003, Official Report, column 501.

Iraq

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Prime Minister what communications the Government received from the United States Administration about the legality in international law of the Iraq war; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: We were in frequent contact with the United States and other countries throughout the period leading up to the conflict, before and after the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441 (2002).

Iraq

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Prime Minister when the Government first formed the view that a second UN resolution was not required to ensure the legality of the Iraq war; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I refer the right hon. and learned Member to the answer the Solicitor-General gave to the hon. Member for Stone (Mr. Cash) on 17 March 2003, Official Report, column 515–16W.
	As the written answer on 17 March 2003 made clear, and is self evident in the text of United Nations Security Council resolution 1441(2002) of 8 November 2002, all that was required was reporting to and discussion by the Security Council of Iraq's failures, but not an express further decision to authorise force.

Iraq

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Prime Minister whether legal advisers other than law officers of the Crown were involved in the preparation and scrutiny of the September 2002 dossier; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: It is not the practice to disclose whether any particular legal advice was given, and if so by whom, on specific occasions.

Ministerial Meetings

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the occasions since 1997 on which he met senior executives from (a) Enron and (b) British Nuclear Fuels Ltd.

Tony Blair: I have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals. As with previous Administrations it is not my practice to provide details of all such meetings.
	A representative of British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. attended a business breakfast in Downing Street on 10 October 2002.
	In respect of Enron, I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave him, the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington (Tom Brake), and the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Matthew Taylor) on 4 February 2002, Official Report, columns 689–90W.

Opinion Sampling

David Laws: To ask the Prime Minister what his estimate is of total expenditure by his Office on (a) focus groups and (b) opinion polls in each year from 1995–96 to 2003–04; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) on 6 November 2002, Official Report, column 399W and to the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (Mr. Salmond) on 20 November 2001, Official Report, column 205W.

People's Peers

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his Answer of 18 December 2003, Official Report, column 1076W, on people's peers, when he expects the names of the second tranche of people's peers to be announced; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend on 18 December 2003, Official Report, column 1076W.

Press Officers

David Laws: To ask the Prime Minister how many press officers were employed in his office in each year from 1990–91 to 2003–04; what the total cost was in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 3 February 2003, Official Report, column 17W.
	At 31 March 2003, there were eight staff working as press officers in the No. 10 press office including one on secondment from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The total cost for running the No. 10 press office for 2002–03 was £1,375,894. The increase reflects the ever increasing media demands with the advent of more outlets, 24 hour news and growth of the internet, for example.
	As at 1 March 2004, there were eight staff working as press officers in the No. 10 press office including one on secondment from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Final cost figures for 2003–04 are not yet available.

Sovereign States (Pre-emptive Action)

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to his speech of 5 March, under what circumstances he supports the right of sovereign states to take pre-emptive action against other states.

Tony Blair: Under international law, force may be used in three circumstances:
	When authority is provided by the United Nations Security Council acting under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. Security Council resolutions adopted under Chapter VII were the authority for military action in Iraq, as set out in the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Solicitor-General on 17 March 2003, Official Report, column 515W. The Security Council may determine the existence of a threat to international peace and security and authorise military force or other action to prevent it becoming an actual breach of the peace.
	In exercise of the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence recognised in Article 51 of the UN Charter, as was the case with US action in Afghanistan in 2001. This includes the right of self-defence when an armed attack has not yet taken place, but is imminent.
	In exceptional circumstances, when it is the only way to avert an overwhelming humanitarian catastrophe, as in Kosovo in 1999.
	As I made clear in my speech on 5 March, the challenges and threats are of a different nature from anything the world has faced before. We must face the threats posed by proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, oppressive and brutal regimes, poverty, HIV/AIDS and environmental damage. We need to take effective action in response to all these challenges, and we cannot always wait for the threat to fully materialise before we act.
	I welcome the UN Secretary-General's decision to set up a High Level Panel to review how the UN can respond more effectively to threats to international peace and security, including considering whether any institutional changes are required. And as I also said in my speech on 5 March, the British role should be to construct a consensus behind a broad agenda of justice and security and the means of enforcing it.

United Nations Charter

Graham Allen: To ask the Prime Minister what recent representations he has received on the reform of the (a) United Nations Charter and (b) international law to limit the sovereignty of nations in cases of (i) urgent humanitarian need and (ii) the threatened aquisition and use of weapons of mass destruction.

Tony Blair: My discussions with other leaders frequently touch on the need for effective collective action to deal with all threats to international peace and security. This includes both to avert an overwhelming humanitarian catastrophe and action to counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
	I welcome the UN Secretary-General's decision to set up a High Level Panel to review how the UN can respond more effectively to threats to international peace and security, including considering whether any institutional changes are required.

CABINET OFFICE

Better Regulation Task Force

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will list the enacted regulations that have been repealed on the recommendation of the Better Regulation Task Force since it was established.

Douglas Alexander: The Better Regulation Task Force advises the Government on action to ensure that regulation and its enforcement meet the principles of good regulation. The Task Force recommends both ways of improving existing regulation and tools for helping us regulate better in future.
	The Government has accepted the vast majority of the Task Force's recommendations, a number of which are included in our Regulatory Reform Action Plan, published in December 2003 and available from the Libraries of both Houses.

Consultants

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much his Department spent on external consultants in each financial year since 1997–98; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Shipley (Mr. Leslie) to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 26 March 2002, Official Report, column 815–816W and to the answer given to the Noble Baroness Wilcox in another place by my hon. Friend, The Lord Macdonald of Tradeston, on 27 November 2002, Official Report, column WA42.
	The Cabinet Office and the Central Office of Information has spent £13,460,000 during 2002–03 on external consultants.
	Expenditure on external consultants during that period included advice on internal IT systems, the development of e-Government initiatives, facilities management and on Strategy Unit studies.

Contingency Planning

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will make a statement on the implications for contingency planning of the level of civil defence grants in the next financial year.

Douglas Alexander: The Civil Defence Grant is a contribution towards the cost of local authorities' civil protection work. The aggregate of civil defence grants to be made for the financial year 2004–05 is £19,038,000, which will be distributed according to a formula agreed with the Local Government Association.
	The grant will make funds available for the preparation of emergency plans, liaison with the emergency services in preparing for major incidents and other civil protection work.
	The Civil Defence Grant is just one small part of what the Government spends on resilience. There are a large number of other statutory bodies involved in local civil protection work including the Police Service, the Fire Service, the Ambulance Service and the Environment Agency. They are funded accordingly for this work.

Non-departmental Public Bodies

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to his answer of 8 March, Official Report, columns 1262–3W, on non-departmental public bodies, if he will make a statement on the change in his Department's expenditure on such bodies since 1996–97.

Douglas Alexander: The Cabinet Office was responsible for eight Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) in 1996–97 and 10 NDPBs in 2002–03.
	Expenditure for these public bodies in 1996–97 and 2002–03 is set out in the following table.
	
		£ million
		
			 NDPB (23)1996–97 2002–03 
		
		
			 British Government Panel on Sustainable Development 0.050 — 
			 Citizen's Charter Panel of Advisers 0.083 — 
			 Deregulation Task Force 0.065 — 
			 Advisory Committee on Advertising — 0.004 
			 Advisory Committee on Business Appointments 0.051 0.061 
			 Civil Service Appeal Board 0.308 0.393 
			 Committee on Standards in Public Life 0.485 0.638 
			 Honours Scrutiny Committee 0 0 
			 Security Commission 0.005 0.007 
			 Better Regulation Task Force(24) — 0.517 
			 Security Vetting Appeal Panel — 0.024 
			 Senior Salaries Review Body(25) — 0.292 
			 House of Lords Appointments Commission — 0.152 
			 Total 1.047 2.088 
		
	
	(23) Expenditure
	(24) The expenditure figure for The Better Regulation Task Force in 2002/03 is not directly comparable with the 1996–97 expenditure figure for its predecessor, the Deregulation Task Force. The Better Regulation Task Force figure includes staff costs for the Task Force secretariat. Staff costs for the Deregulation Task Force in 1996–97 were not calculated.
	(25) Although sponsored by the Cabinet Office, costs are met by the DTI.

Parliamentary Questions

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what criteria are applied, and by whom, when a decision is taken that duplicate Parliamentary Questions tabled to different departments should be responded to by means of one composite reply; what mechanism exists for identifying such questions; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: Departments prepare answers to Parliamentary Questions in accordance with the Guidance to Officials on Drafting Answers to Parliamentary Questions, re-issued by the Cabinet Office in September 2002. Departments liaise with each other from time to time where Parliamentary Questions cut across departmental boundaries. It is for individual Ministers to decide on the contents of answers to Parliamentary Questions.

Recycling

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what targets he has set in his Department for the re-cycling of waste (a) paper, (b) cardboard, (c) glass, (d) metal and (e) plastic in each of the last three years; and what results have been achieved.

Douglas Alexander: The Cabinet Office works towards meeting waste targets set for individual Government Departments by the Ministerial Sub-Committee (ENV(G)).
	Figures for Cabinet Office recycling in each of the last three years are published in the Greening Government 3rd Annual Report and the Sustainable Development in Government 1st and 2nd Annual Reports.
	Online copies of all three reports can be found at: http://www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/sdig/reports/index.htm.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Judges' Instructions

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs on what basis the Home Secretary instructs judges to hold meetings with the public on their work.

Christopher Leslie: My right hon. friend the Home Secretary has not instructed the judiciary to hold meetings with the public. He and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State, hold the view that everyone involved in the criminal justice system should engage closely with local communities, including judges and other members of the judiciary. Judges and magistrates already participate in court open days, court user groups and work with schools. Through the Magistrates in the Community initiative, magistrates meet the community organisations across the country to discuss developments in the criminal justice system; and, with probation officers, have held similar meetings to explain and discuss community sentences. They will also be involved in the Courts Boards established under the new Unified Courts Administration to build better links between courts and the communities they serve.

Supreme Court

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether the Lord Chancellor has received a request to appear before the relevant committee in the Scottish Parliament to discuss the proposals for a UK supreme court.

Christopher Leslie: My right hon. and noble learned Friend the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor received an informal request on 3 March 2004 to appear before the Scottish Parliament's Justice 2 Committee, which is inquiring into the Constitutional Reform Bill. He declined in accordance with Devolution Guidance Note 12, Attendance of UK Ministers and Officials at Committees of the Devolved Legislatures.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Company Pension Schemes

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many company pension schemes declared insolvent have been notified to his Department in the last three years.

Malcolm Wicks: This information is not available. The currently available source of information on pension schemes is the Pension Schemes Registry, which is administered by the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority (Opra). Their database does not allow us to identify the solvency position of the sponsoring company of a pension scheme.
	We are exploring with industry representatives the basis on which we can establish firm estimates of the number of defined benefit schemes which wind up because of insolvency.

Disability Living Allowance

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many households had more than one person claiming disability living allowance on the latest date for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: At April 2003, there were an estimated 100,000 households in Great Britain in which two or more people were receiving DLA.

Incapacity Benefit Payments

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) men and (b) women received incapacity benefit payments made on mental health grounds in each year since 1997 in relation to (i) depression and (ii) stress; and if he will break down these payments by region.

Maria Eagle: The information has been placed in the Library.

Industrial Injuries Report

Liz Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has received the report from the Industrial Injuries Advisory Committee on its review of Prescribed Disease A11.

Des Browne: The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council report on Prescribed Disease A11 has now been received by Ministers and we will be considering its recommendations.

Maternity Allowance

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many families are eligible to receive maternity allowance.

Maria Eagle: The information is not available.

National Insurance Contributions (Women)

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what legislation prevents women who paid reduced National Insurance contributions before 1986 from making up those payments; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 18 March 2004
	I have been asked to reply. 
	A woman who had a valid reduced rate election in force before 1986 cannot pay voluntary Class 3 contributions to make up those payments. The relevant legislation is Regulation 132 of the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations 2001 (SI 2001 No. 1004). This regulation mirrored exactly Regulation 105 of Social Security (Contributions) Regulations 1979.

Parkinson's Disease

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people with Parkinson's disease who are of working age are in receipt of disability living allowance; and how many of this number are in receipt of the higher allowance.

Maria Eagle: As at 30 November 2003, some 5,700 people of working age whose main disabling condition is recorded as Parkinson's disease were receiving disability living allowance and, of these, around 4,100 were receiving either a higher rate care component or higher rate mobility component or both.
	Note:
	Figures taken from a 5 per cent. sample at 30 November 2003
	Figures are in thousands and rounded to the nearest hundred.
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre

Parkinson's Disease

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people with Parkinson's disease received support from the Jobcentre Plus Disability Employment Advisory Service in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003.

Maria Eagle: Jobcentre Plus Disability Employment Advisers and Work Psychologists work with disabled jobseekers to help them overcome disability-related obstacles to work. They support people with a broad range of disabilities including Parkinson's Disease.
	The information requested is not collected centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Pension Credit

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the estimated cost is of administering the pension credit in each of the first five years of its operation.

Malcolm Wicks: Information on the cost of administering Pension Credit is not currently available in the format requested. In accordance with the requirements of Resource Accounting and Budgeting the Department now accounts for its administration and benefit expenditure by strategic objective, as set out in its Public Service Agreements (PSA), and by individual Requests for Resources (RfRs), as set out in the Departmental Estimates and Accounts.

Pension Service (Telephone Calls)

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what percentage of telephone calls to (a) the pension credit application line and (b) the Pension Service which were not classed as engaged or abandoned were answered within 20 seconds in each month since it was established; how many and what percentage of attempted telephone calls to each reached an engaged tone in each month since it was established; and how many and what percentage of telephone calls to each were abandoned in each month since it was established.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is not available in precisely the form requested. Such information as is available is shown in the tables 1–3.
	
		Table 1: Calls to pension credit application line: April 2003–February 2004
		
			  Calls answered within 30 seconds Calls receiving engaged tone orrecorded message that all agentsare busy Calls abandoned 
			  Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage 
		
		
			 April 2003 17,675 94.29 0 0.00 975 4.69 
			 May 2003 32,733 99.94 10 0.03 18 0.05 
			 June 2003 57,731 99.95 1,790 2.88 386 0.64 
			 July 2003 112,014 95.34 3,047 2.78 948 0.80 
			 August 2003 177,338 97.51 7,255 3.87 313 0.17 
			 September 2003 352,283 92.60 18,540 4.01 15,794 3.69 
			 October 2003 429,954 95.20 2,854 0.62 13,370 2.77 
			 November 2003 302,399 99.68 990 0.31 2,831 0.89 
			 December 2003 183,646 99.78 32 0.02 1,165 0.60 
			 January 2004 429,668 93.79 123 0.02 12,079 2.44 
			 February 2004 372,932 92.71 185 0.04 11,839 2.73 
		
	
	
		Table 2: Calls to the Pension Service: September 2002–March 2003
		
			  Calls answered Calls abandoned Calls engaged 
			  Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage 
		
		
			 September 2002 403,784 92.1 35,357 8.0 3, 946 0.9 
			 October 2002 460,373 92.1 40,091 7.9 5,394 1.1 
			 November 2002 688,659 92.1 68,410 5.7 444,083 37.3 
			 December 2002 522,656 89.1 67,391 7.2 344,485 37.0 
			 January 2003 673,753 86.9 109,601 13.6 33,057 4.1 
			 February 2003 607,083 89.3 74,174 6.2 514,357 43.1 
			 March 2003 734,955 90.4 76,882 4.4 920,733 53.1 
		
	
	
		Table 3: Calls to the Pension Service: April 2003–January 2004
		
			  Calls answered Calls answered within30 seconds Calls abandoned Calls engaged 
			  Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage 
		
		
			 April 2003 567,101 91.1 n/a n/a 71,947 7.8 303,825 32.8 
			 May 2003 610,728 83.3 n/a n/a 122,771 9.4 572,388 43.8 
			 June 2003 750,360 86.6 n/a n/a 116,575 10.2 278,937 24.3 
			 July 2003 792,427 87.8 n/a n/a 110,083 8.9 329,937 26.8 
			 August 2003 704, 052 89.1 444,135 69.9 90,325 9.1 182,213 1.2 
			 September 2003 882,761 90.1 535,341 68.2 97,195 9.0 99,611 1 .5 
			 October 2003 1,043,354 94.5 664,233 78.1 58,062 5.2 5,961 0.1 
			 November 2003 1,178,443 92.2 581,373 67.6 100,239 7.7 7,568 0.4 
			 December 2004 1,097,450 93.0 519,152 70.1 78,984 6.6 1,283 0.1 
			 January 2004 1,235,864 92.2 584,810 63.8 103,342 7.7 3,471 0.3 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. In Table 1, the number of calls receiving the engaged tone or a recorded message was unusually high in September due to technical problems with the telephony at one particular site. The number of calls affected by these problems cannot be separated out.
	2. The figures in Tables 2 and 3 do not include calls to the pension credit application line
	3. For The pension service, numbers of calls answered within 30 seconds are only available from August 2003
	4. In all three tables, the numbers of calls answered, abandoned and engaged are not calculated on precisely the same basis and in some cases the columns will add up to more than 100 per cent.

Pensions

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the annual cost to public funds from April, net of savings in mean-tested benefits and additional income tax revenue, (a) of paying state pensions in full at the rate of a Category A pension to every UK pensioner aged between 65 and 74, regardless of their contribution record and (b) of paying a full basic state pension to each individual at the rate of the guarantee credit, regardless of contribution record, from the age of 75; and if he will estimate for (b) the cost in each of the following four years on the assumption that the pension was then indexed to earnings.

Malcolm Wicks: The annual additional cost to the Exchequer, net of additional income tax and savings in income related benefits of paying the full basic pension at the rate of a Category A pension to every GB pensioner aged between 65 and 74 is £2.1 billion.
	The additional cost to the Exchequer of paying the basic state pension at the rate of the guarantee credit, regardless of contribution history, to all aged 75 and over is in the following table:
	
		£ billion
		
			  Net Cost 
		
		
			 2004 4.4 
			 2005 4.6 
			 2006 4.9 
			 2007 5.3 
			 2008 5.6 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are for Great Britain and in 2003–04 price terms rounded to the nearest £100 million. It is assumed the change comes into effect from April 2004 and payment is uprated in line with earnings thereafter.
	2. Gross costs are estimated by the Government Actuary's Department and are consistent with Budget 2004 assumptions and use 2002 based population projections.
	3. The costs take into account income related benefit offsets, which are calculated using the DWP policy simulation model and April 2004 benefit rates.
	4. Additional income tax revenue is estimated by the Inland Revenue using 2004 tax rates.

Pensions

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of average male earnings the state retirement pension for a single person represented in each year from 1994 to 2004.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is not available in the format requested. However, such information as is available is set out in the table.
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 1995 19.8 
			 1996 19.7 
			 1997 19.9 
			 1998 19.8 
			 1999 19.3 
			 2000 19.0 
			 2001 18.9 
			 2002 18.8 
			 2003 18.9 
		
	
	1. All figures are provided from a 5 per cent. sample of DWP administrative data taken at March in each year, except March 1995 which is a 10 per cent. sample. We are only able to provide figures from March 1995 as the administrative data is not available before this point.
	2. Neither administrative data nor earnings data for 2004 is available.
	3. State pension is calculated as the maximum rate of basic state pension plus the average amount of additional pension in payment based on March administrative data for recently retired men aged 65.
	4. Average earnings is the mean weekly earnings at April in each year, found in the Annual Abstract of Statistics published by the Department for Work and Pensions.
	5. The figures have been rounded to the nearest 0.1 of a percentage point.

Winter Fuel Allowance

Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people over (a) 60 years and (b) 80 years are in receipt of the winter fuel allowance in The Wrekin.

Malcolm Wicks: The information is as set out in the table below.
	
		Winter Fuel Payment
		
			  Number of people over 60 Number of people over 80 
		
		
			 2003–04 17,116 3,220 
		
	
	Source:
	IAD Information Centre, 100 percent sample.
	Notes:
	1. Figures taken from the Matching Intelligence Data Analysis Service Winter Fuels Payment 2003/2004 exercise 100 per data.
	2. Figures are rounded to the nearest five.

Winter Fuel Allowance

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of (a) payment errors and (b) overpayments of winter fuel allowance to older people.

Malcolm Wicks: During winter 2002–03 some 11,356,000 winter fuel payments were made. About 0.4 per cent. (48,972) were incorrect. Those pensioners who were underpaid were sent further payments when the facts were established. In a very small proportion of cases there was overprovision because for example, some recipients' circumstances had changed or duplicate payments had been made in error.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Activity Co-ordination Team

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many times she has met the Secretary of State for Health to discuss the work of the Activity Co-ordination Team.

Richard Caborn: The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and the Secretary of State for Health have met formally on one occasion to discuss the work of the Activity Co-ordination Team. They are due to meet again at the end of March 2004.

Activity Co-ordination Team

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what budget her Department has allocated to the work of the Activity Co-ordination Team.

Richard Caborn: The Activity Co-ordination Team (ACT) has been established by Government to increase participation in sport and physical activity. ACT is not a funding body but will publish shortly a paper setting out proposals to tackle physical inactivity.

Broadcasting (Children)

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to her Answer of 4 December 2003, Official Report, columns 163–4W on broadcasting (children), what representations she has received on establishing a national digital radio network for children; and if she will make a statement.

Estelle Morris: A number of representations have been received. However, as I explained in my Answer of 4 December 2003, Official Report, columns 163–4, the licensing of commercial radio stations is a matter for Ofcom, and Ministers cannot intervene. Parties interested in establishing a national digital radio network for children should approach Ofcom and holders of the national and regional commercial digital sound multiplexes.

Departmental Scientific Adviser

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether her Department has a chief scientific adviser.

Estelle Morris: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has not appointed a chief scientific adviser. DCMS has access to a wide range of expert scientific and technological advice through its own economists and statisticians, its standing and ad hoc advisory groups, its sponsored bodies and other research and development partners. This advice is called upon as and when necessary to support policy-making activities and inform Ministerial deliberations.

Digital Television

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the level of take-up of digital television services has been from 1998 to the most recent date for which figures are available, broken down by region; and what steps have been taken since June 2003 to improve the collection and compilation of regional data.

Estelle Morris: This information is not available currently. Subscriber figures for the take up of digital television services are not available on a regional basis, as the data is commercially sensitive and therefore confidential to the pay television companies. However the Office for National Statistics hope to be able to produce figures on the level of take up of all digital television services on a regional basis in the future, and I understand Ofcom are compiling some estimates of regional take-up. The Department is currently having discussions on the possibility of commissioning research on the take-up of digital television services by region.

Film Making

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what (a) financial and (b) other assistance has been provided towards film making in (i) Greater London and (ii) England in each of the last five years.

Estelle Morris: The following table gives details of financial assistance towards film making in (i) Greater London (GL) and (ii) the rest of England (Eng) for the last five years. Prior to the establishment of the UK Film Council in April 2000, funding for film production was channelled through the British Film Institute's (BFI) production arm, the Arts Council of England (ACE) and British Screen Finance Limited. The UK Film Council took over responsibility for investing in film making from the date of its inception in April 2000.
	Also, from 2001–02 an additional £7.5 million per year has been allocated to regional film development, and allocated through the Regional Screen Agencies. These have the promotion of film making as a core concern, but also assist training programmes and a wide range of other activities which work to promote film on a regional level.
	In addition to the funding referred to above, the UK Film Council's film-making scheme for young people, First Light, has made 34 awards to projects in Greater London at a cost of £494,466, and awarded funding to an additional 120 projects in the rest of England at a cost of £1,250,765.
	As well as financial assistance, the UK Film Council works to create the best possible environment for film-making in the UK. Examples of its activities include the joint establishment, with Skillset, last year of the first ever skills strategy for the film industry.
	
		£
		
			 Funding agency for Film 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 BFI Production (26)204,400 
			  (27)688,300 
			 Arts Council of England (ACE) (27)24,938,263 
			 British Screen Finance Ltd. (27)4,000,000 
			 UK Film Council — (26)29,834,325 (26)24,600,413 (26)31,081,000 (26)27,107370 
			   (27)205,597 (27)870,318 (27)1,226,730 (27)1,638,350 
			 Total 29,830,963 30,039,922 25,470731 32,307,730 28,745,720 
		
	
	(26) GL
	(27) Eng
	Notes:
	A regional breakdown of ACE lottery awards for film production is not available due to the awards being grouped as national grants.
	Figures for spend in England does not include the spend for Greater London.
	Film funding is non location specific, i.e. an award can be made to production company based in London but the film itself could then be shot (and funding spent) on locations across England and the UK.

Libraries

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money has been spent on library (a) buildings and (b) books in (i) Lancashire and (ii) Chorley in each year since 1997.

Estelle Morris: Information on Lancashire's expenditure on premises is contained in the following table. It is based on the premises expenditure per thousand population and the population figures shown in the relevant annual Public Library Statistics volumes produced by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, copies of which are held in the House of Commons Library. These figures are not broken down below library authority level. 2001–02 are the latest "actual" figures available (figures for 2002–03 are only available as an estimate at present).
	Expenditure on books in Lancashire and Chorley is shown in a further table. Figures relating directly to Chorley are not available; the figures below are based upon a best estimate provided by Lancashire County Council.
	
		Expenditure on library premises -- £
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			 Lancashire 2,017,800 1,782,384 1,674,801 1,873,020 1,970,360 
		
	
	
		Expenditure on books
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Lancashire   
			 Resources Fund (£) 3,202,933 2,389,655 2,256,429 2,432,519 2,447,138 2,569,364 
			 Books (£) 2,643,901 1,960,919 1,818,357 1,861,551 1,795,926 1,936,070 
			
			 Chorley (percentage) 6.85 8.61 8.62 8.70 8.85 8.88 
			 Resources Fund (£) 219,401 205,749 194,504 211,629 216,572 228,160 
			 Books (£) 181,107 168,835 156,742 161,955 158,939 171,923

National Endowment for Science, Technology andthe Arts

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the ideas sponsored by the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts which have gone into commercial production.

Estelle Morris: Of 430 awards to date, 143 investments have been made through the Invention and Innovation Programme (which is the programme most relevant to commercial production). 40 projects have gone beyond the prototyping stage and have, therefore, a product or service that is available to buy. Of these 32 have actually sold a product.
	The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) is an early stage investor, supporting projects long before they reach their production phase. As such, given that NESTA has only been in existence for five years, we would not expect most of their awardees to have reached the stage of commercial production.
	The 32 projects that have achieved a sale are as follows. Projects details are available in the Annual Reports of NESTA that are laid before the House.
	
		
			 Project Name Individual 
		
		
			 Amphibious Vehicle David Royle 
			 Transition Sailing Rig Dr. Richard Dryden 
			 DECOi Ltd. Mark Goulthorpe 
			 Aquadraulics Ltd. Michael Brisland 
			 Walltransform Glenn Melvin 
			 MusicWheels 'a musical revolution' Duncan Betts 
			 Benchrover Ian Stuart 
			 Bacteria Detection in Food Borne Disease Osborn Jones 
			 DEVL Duddon Electronics Vehicle Logger Eddie Clunan 
			 Protein Music Dr. Helen Linda Long 
			 Moviposter Michael Medora 
			 Surface Monitoring Fluorimeter David Ward 
			 RoBAT Colin Barker 
			 Fueler Mark Howarth 
			 Combustion Paul Cockle 
			 Great British Theatre on Video Robert Marshall 
			 Kre8 SYSTEM Stewart Dunn 
			 Jericho Products James Philips 
			 WarpFilms Project Steve Beckett 
			 Anamorphic micro Justin Thomas 
			 Eyeball Swimming Pool Security Richard Mansfield 
			 The High Tide Organ Liam Curtin 
			 Seawater Greenhouse Charlie Paton 
			 PsychologyOnline Sue Wright 
			 Imprint Pharmaceuticals Limited Kevin Maynard 
			 Monitored Dosage System David Fenn 
			 Medipure Limited Jim Daly 
			 STesT Leak Radar Mark Harper 
			 Changing Handles for Good Glen Heavenor 
			 Hypertag Jonathan Morgan 
			 Safety Riding Wear Vicky Sharpe 
			 NanoSight Ltd. Bob Carr

Opinion Sampling

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her estimate is of total expenditure by her Department on (a) focus groups and (b) opinion polls in each year from 1995–96 to 2003–04; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: Total annual Departmental expenditure on focus groups and opinion polling during the period between 1996–97 and 2003–04 was £29,820 on focus groups during 2001–02 and £34,662 and £74,701 on opinion polling during 2001–02 and 2002–03.

Police Transfers

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether an officer in the Royal Parks Constabulary who is within two years of retirement at age 60 years will be eligible for transfer to the Metropolitan police.

Richard Caborn: Although the normal retirement age for Metropolitan police officers is 55, they may be granted annual extensions of service up to the age of 60 subject to the satisfaction of certain eligibility tests. An officer in the Royal Parks Constabulary who is 58 or over at the time the RPC is merged with the Metropolitan Police Service (which of course depends on the passage of the appropriate legislation, which has not yet been brought forward) will be considered for attestation as an MPS officer on this basis.

Running Tracks

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what grants have been made for running tracks in (a) Greater Manchester, (b) Merseyside, (c) Lancashire and (d) Cheshire in each year since 1997; and what the amounts were in each case.

Richard Caborn: Grants made for running tracks
		
			  Cheshire Cumbria Greater Manchester Lancashire Merseyside 
		
		
			 1997 Sum of Award (£) — — 2,768,000 — — 
			 Count of Award — — 1 — — 
			 1998 Sum of Award (£) — — 847,520 1,059,975 — 
			 Count of Award — — 1 1 — 
			 1999 Sum of Award (£) 4,152 1,944 — 3,500 — 
			 Count of Award 1 1 — 1 — 
			 2000 Sum of Award (£) 7,600 — 1,394 17,753 29,818 
			 Count of Award 2 — 1 6 7 
			 2001 Sum of Award (£) 15,662 7,097 — 20,989 4,890 
			 Count of Award 4 2 — 5 1 
			 2002 Sum of Award (£) 10,580 6,835 — 86,446 174,730 
			 Count of Award 3 3 — 22 10 
			 2003 Sum of Award (£) 407,464 13,307 223,285 139,250 55,208 
			 Count of Award 7 4 3 19 4 
		
	
	The table shows Sport England Community athletics awards including the Community Capital and Community Athletics Refurbishment Programme grants, as well as Awards for All grants.

Science Strategy

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she has taken to enhance science in her Department since the publication of the Government's science strategy Investing in Innovation.

Estelle Morris: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has responded to the science agenda outlined in "Investing in Innovation" in several ways since its publication in July 2002.
	DCMS is the first department to take part in the cross-cutting review now being conducted by the Office for Science and Technology, which was advocated in the document. DCMS recognises that a number of its sponsored bodies, in particular the Natural History Museum and the Science Museums, have a key role to play in science education and can make major contributions to the Government's drive to improve further the quality of science teaching in schools and colleges, the scientific knowledge of young people entering the workforce, the image of science within society and the scientific understanding of the public generally.
	In February 2003, the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) which is sponsored by DCMS, received an additional 50 million bringing its endowment up to 250 million and an extra 45 million to use as revenue expenditure until 2006. NESTA now plans to spend over 20 million a year on UK creativity and innovation in science, technology and the arts.
	DCMS is continuing to develop a Research Strategy which coordinates social science research with our Non Departmental Public Bodies.

Sport Expenditure

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much her Department spent per capita in grant-in-aid for sport in England in each of the last five years.

Richard Caborn: The Department for Culture Media and Sport's grant-in-aid funding for Sport England in 1998–99 was £36.49 million, in 1999–2000 was £37.52 million, in 2000–01 was £38.32 million, in 2001–02 was £43.16 million and in 2002–03 was £80.32 million, as illustrated. These figures do not reflect the grant-in-aid funding which the Department provides to UK Sport.
	
		
			  Grant-in-aid funding(£ million) Population totals (million) Funding per capita (£) 
		
		
			 1998–99 36.49 48.7 0.75 
			 1999–2000 37.52 48.9 0.77 
			 2000–01 38.32 49.1 0.78 
			 2001–02 43.16 49.3 0.87 
			 2002–03 80.32 49.5 1.62

Sport Expenditure

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will place in the Library the latest available research showing what each European Union member country spends in direct government expenditure per capita on sport.

Richard Caborn: No direct comparison of government expenditure per capita on sport by European Union member states has been made by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport or the Sports Councils the Department funds. Meaningful comparisons are difficult because of the differences between the ways sport is structured and financed from country to country.

Sport Expenditure

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding has been provided to promote (a) hockey, (b) rugby, (c) soccer, (d) cricket and (e) other sports in Greater London in each of the last five years.

Richard Caborn: The information requested is in the following table.
	
		£
		
			  Hockey Rugby Union Football Cricket Other Sports 
		
		
			 1999 Sum of Award 189,067 949,625 936,950 27,554 23,147,854 
			 Count of Award 4 6 29 4 136 
			 2000 Sum of Award 712,024 27,130 3,875,902 156,826 11,583,244 
			 Count of Award 8 6 106 50 341 
			 2001 Sum of Award 1,771,412 570,793 594,067 601,326 33,474,131 
			 Count of Award 7 16 87 45 296 
			 2002 Sum of Award 615,458 309,952 2,569,851 1,275,456 28,488,443 
			 Count of Award 9 10 103 60 476 
			 2003 Sum of Award 22,518 625,640 533,837 3,189,745 2,288,964 
			 Count of Award 5 9 122 54 320 
		
	
	The table shows Sport England Lottery awards benefiting a number of schemes and programmes in London including the Safer Sports Grounds initiative, Active Sports, English Institute of Sport, Active Communities Development Fund, Sport Action Zones, Football Youth Development, Community Capital and Community Athletics Refurbishment Programme grants, as well as Awards for All grants.

Sport Expenditure

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much Lottery expenditure has been allocated to sporting projects in each of the past five years, broken down by Lottery distributor.

Estelle Morris: Money raised by the National Lottery specifically for Sport is distributed by five organisations, the Sports Councils in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and by UK Sport. The figures in the table, provided by the distributors for the DCMS Lottery Awards database show the figures requested.
	
		£000
		
			  1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 SE 256,787,756 281,896,436 322,534,774 200,525,814 49,348,483 
			 SI 4,850,455 5,339,265 1,263,666 275,798 275,039 
			 SS 16,814,905 23,316,761 26,155,900 22,321,475 13,840,748 
			 SU 26,777,576 64,905,697 16,896,624 9,686,653 7,320,776 
			 SW 4,060,990 13,171,753 7,367,111 26,937,069 7,324,815 
			 Total 309,291,682 388,629,912 374,218,075 259,746,809 78,109,861 
		
	
	In addition to these totals, Lottery money is directed to sport projects through other channels. Awards for All is a scheme funded by all of the Lottery good causes, which makes small awards across the good cause sectors. In the financial year 2002/03, Sport England contributed 9.770m to this scheme and in the following year, £12.5m. Total Awards for All spend attributable sporting projects was £13.608m in 2002–03 and 15.581 in 2003–04.
	Lottery money has also been spent on sporting projects by the New Opportunities Fund, which has a remit to award money in relation to health, education and the environment. The New Opportunities for PE and Sport programme has made awards of £32,343,179 in 2002–03 and £142,734,236 in 2003–04. The Active England programme has made £17,699,899 of awards in 2003–04.
	Elements of other NOF programmes have also funded sport projects. The awards in the table have been made under the Playing Field and Community Green Spaces programme.
	
		
			  £000 
		
		
			  
			  
			 2001 765,432 
			 2002 11,810,847 
			 2003 15,322,777 
		
	
	Sport related projects have also been awarded Lottery money by NOF under the Out of School Hours Learning Programme, as in the table below.
	
		
			  £000 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1999 32,881,535 
			 2000 56,987,670 
			 2001 48,393,488 
			 2002 13,815,153 
			 2003 1,065,337

Sports (Honours)

David Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the membership of the advisory committee responsible for recommending the awarding of honours to persons involved in sport; what the background is of each member; how long each has served on the committee; what their sporting expertise is; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: No. Information about advisory committees in the honours system and the advice they give is protected from disclosure under exemptions 2 and 8 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information, and is not made public.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Alcohol Addiction

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were receiving treatment for alcohol addiction in Northern Ireland on 1March; what facilities are available in Northern Ireland for the treatment of alcoholics; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: On 1 March there were approximately 2,966 persons receiving treatment for alcohol misuse. It is not possible to give an absolute figure because some individuals may have a co-morbid diagnosis of alcohol and drug dependence.
	A range of treatment options is provided by the statutory and voluntary sector. These include community based detoxification, counselling, residential treatment and after care. A comprehensive Review of all Mental Health services is currently under way—part of this Review involves looking at those services specifically allocated to problem drug and alcohol users. Decisions about future services for such users will continue to be based on the assessment of clinical need mindful of current good practice and appropriate guidelines.

Antisocial Behaviour

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to minimise antisocial behaviour in (a) accident and emergency departments and (b) hospitals in general; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The Department is extremely concerned about violent attacks against any staff working in the Health and Personal Social Services (HPSS), including attacks on staff in accident and emergency departments and in hospitals in general. The Department regards such attacks as totally unacceptable and will be launching a campaign shortly to raise public awareness that violent acts against staff working in the HPSS will not be tolerated, that violence against staff is a crime and that the perpetrators could face a prison sentence.

Cattle Tagging

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cattle in Northern Ireland have been re-tagged during the past two years owing to the animals losing their identification tags.

Ian Pearson: The number of animals re-tagged in Northern Ireland during the past two years are as shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Number of cattle re-tagged 
		
		
			 2002 36,450 
			 2003 19,787

Diabetes Services

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  whether the implementation team to produce the implementation plan for the Diabetes Service Framework in Northern Ireland has been established; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what timescale has been set for the production of an implementation strategy for the Diabetes Service Framework in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: It has been decided that the Department will manage the implementation process for the Diabetes Service Framework through the local groups established by the four HSS Boards rather than add a further level of bureaucracy by establishing a Regional Implementation Team.
	An additional £1 million has been made available to Boards in 2004–05 to begin the implementation process and the Department has requested that the local groups identify and take forward prioritised recommendations within a framework which is to be agreed with the Department by May 2004

Fair Employment Exemptions

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what exemptions are in place in Northern Ireland from equal fair employment laws; and whether these exemptions are from (a) United Kingdom, (b) European and (c) international law.

John Spellar: The Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 provides for the following exemptions:
	Employment or occupation as a clergyman or minister of religion;
	Employment where the essential nature of the job requires it to be done by a person holding/not holding a particular religious belief or political opinion ('genuine occupational requirement');
	Recruitment of schoolteachers;
	Selection of persons for appointment as police trainees or for certain posts in police support staff;
	Actions done in pursuance of affirmative action (e.g. training, selection for redundancy, encouragement of applications from under-represented communities, selection of unemployed persons;
	Religion specific training for non-employees;
	Conferring of benefits by a charity on persons of a particular religious belief or political opinion;
	Acts done in order to comply with existing legislation;
	Provision of accommodation in, or disposal of shared small dwellings;
	Care provided in family home where persons are treated as family members;
	Goods, facilities or services provided by a religious denomination or political party to persons of a particular religion or political opinion (or none);
	Goods, facilities or services provided by schools, colleges of education or theological training colleges;
	Acts done for the purposes of safeguarding national security or protecting public safety or public order;
	Private sale of land or premises.
	The Government is satisfied that these exemptions accord with UK law generally, with EU law and with the UK's international obligations.

Illiteracy

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his latest assessment is of the levels of illiteracy in Northern Ireland, broken down by age group.

Jane Kennedy: Research to date has focused on measuring levels of literacy and at present no data are available which specifically identifies the levels of illiteracy.
	The International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS) which was conducted in 1996 indicated that 24 per cent. of the adult population in Northern Ireland performed at the lowest level of literacy, level 1.
	Of those adults performing at the lowest level of literacy:
	20 per cent. were aged between 16–25;
	16 per cent. were aged between 26–35;
	21 per cent. were aged between 36–45; and
	43 per cent. were aged over 45.

IVF Treatment

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many couples received IVF treatment on the NHS in Northern Ireland in the last five years for which figures are available; what the average length of treatment was; and if he will make a statement on IVF provision in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: The interim sub-fertility service was established in December 2001, making specialist treatments such as IVF available for the first time in Northern Ireland as part of a publicly-funded fertility service. Prior to that date IVF treatment in Northern Ireland was available only on a private basis.
	It is not possible to provide precise data on the number of couples that have received IVF treatment as the data collected refers to treatment cycles provided rather than couples treated. The following table sets out the number of IVF treatment cycles commissioned since the establishment of the interim sub-fertility service.
	
		
			  Number of IVF cycle commissioned 
		
		
			 2001–02 147 
			 2002–03 131 
			 2003–04 207 
		
	
	Data are not collected on the average length of treatment.
	A consultation document and equality impact assessment on the future of sub-fertility services were issued for public consultation on 13 October 2003. In developing the paper, my Department worked closely with commissioners, providers and users of fertility services, to discuss issues and concerns. The consultation period closed on 30 January. The outcome of the consultation process will inform final decisions on the future provision of fertility services in Northern Ireland to be made later this year.

Key Stage 3

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what opportunity Key Stage 3 of the education curriculum will provide for all children to participate in physical activity.

Jane Kennedy: The current statutory curriculum at Key Stage 3 includes Physical Education as one of the compulsory subjects. Final decisions have not yet been made about the content of the revised curriculum. However, the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) has proposed that there will be a requirement for all children to undertake a programme of physical activity. It is also proposed that this will continue into Key Stage 4.

Killyleagh Development

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much Northern Ireland departments intend to invest in Killyleagh in the next year.

Ian Pearson: Details of the amounts that departments in the Northern Ireland administration (including Agencies and non-departmental public bodies) intend to invest in Killyleagh in the next financial year are shown as follows.
	
		
			  Details £000 
		
		
			 Rivers Agency Replacement of culvert in Shrigley, Killyleagh. 5 
			 Roads Service Footpath from the Comber Road Estate to St. Mary's School. 10 
			  Surface dressing for the Innishbeg and Kerrywynn Estates. 10 
			  Surface dressing on the A22 Comber Road, from River Bridge to Comber Road Estate. 5 
			 Housing Association Grant Over the next three years, a grant of 341,000 will be provided for a new build housing scheme of four units for general needs accommodation. Clanmil Housing Association will provide these units at Frederick Street, Killyleagh. 137 
			 Housing Executive Variety of projects including improvements, repairs, adaptations and maintenance. 510

Libraries

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) public libraries and (b) mobile library units there were within each Education and Library Board district in Northern Ireland in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement on public library usage in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: The following table sets out details of public libraries and mobile library units in each Education and Library Board area since 2000. We can be justifiably proud of our public library service that is regularly used by people of all ages and social classes. While the trend in traditional library usage has been declining in recent years, the most recent published figures show that in 2001–02 approximately 7 million visits were made to public libraries in Northern Ireland. Since the installation of the Peoples Network during 2002–03, indications are that membership of public libraries has been increasing but as yet official figures are not available.
	
		
			  2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
			  Branches Mobiles Branches Mobiles Branches Mobiles 
		
		
			 Belfast 21 3 21 3 21 3 
			 North Eastern 36 8 37 8 37 8 
			 South Eastern 26 5 26 5 26 5 
			 Southern 23 7 23 7 23 7 
			 Western 16 9 16 9 16 9 
			 Total 122 32 123 32 123 32 
		
	
	This table excludes the Irish Studies Centre, Coleraine, the Local Studies Unit, Ballymena and the Irish Studies Centre in Armagh.

Multiple Sclerosis

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to increase provision for multiple sclerosis sufferers in (a) North Down and (b) Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: Over 500 patients in Northern Ireland are receiving beta interferon treatment and there are around 65 on the waiting list. These figures include 198 patients receiving beta interferon in the Eastern Health and Social Services Board area, with funding available for a further 12 patients.
	Additional £100,000 recurrent funding was provided last year to boost the Northern Ireland infrastructure for the delivery of these medicines, including the appointment of additional pharmacists, technician support and specialist nurses who are now in post. Additional consultants have been appointed and Regional joint medical/nursing clinics are also being set up. The Ulster Hospital, covering the North Down area, is working with the Royal Victoria Hospital to develop a joint plan for a shared additional consultant neurologist post. A consultation service for multiple sclerosis patients is expected to be up and running there within the next 12 months.

Rail Services

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with what frequency safety inspections are carried out on Translink rolling stock, broken down by type.

John Spellar: I have been advised by Translink that:
	(a) bogey inspections are carried out on all rolling stock every 48 hours;
	(b) 450 and 80 Class rolling stock and ex-Gatwick Express carriages are inspected every 5,000 miles;
	(c) Enterprise carriages are inspected every 24 hours and a weekly examination is also carried out; and
	(d) locomotives are inspected every three months.

Rail Services

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which organisation is responsible for the (a) inspection and (b) maintenance of railway lines in Northern Ireland; how often safety inspections are carried out on railway lines in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

John Spellar: Northern Ireland Railways is responsible for the inspection and maintenance of railway lines in Northern Ireland. Primarily Northern Ireland Railway's own labour force carries out maintenance, with input from specialist contractors as required for technical or volume reasons. I have been advised by Translink that the inspection regime is as follows:
	Track
	Jointed track is visually inspected every other day, Monday-Friday.
	Continually welded track is inspected weekly.
	Supervisory inspections are carried out at least half yearly.
	Technical condition of track is recorded twice yearly.
	Structures
	Sea defences are inspected annually.
	Rock slopes are inspected monthly.
	Bridges are inspected visually during track walks and structurally on an annual basis.
	Signalling equipment
	All signalling equipment is inspected four times per year.
	Additional inspections are carried out after incidents such as severe weather and where impact damage has occurred.

Civil Servants

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost of recruitment of civil servants for the Department was in each financial year since 1996–97, broken down by (a) delegated or contracted out recruitment procedures and (b) recruitment procedures carried out by the Department.

Ian Pearson: Most recruitment to the Northern Ireland Civil Service, including NICS staff seconded to Northern Ireland Office is carried out by the Department of Finance and Personnel. Expenditure by the Department on recruitment services is as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 2001–02 3.5 
			 2002–03 1.5 
			 2003–04 1.4 
		
	
	Information on expenditure before 2001–02 and on expenditure by other Departments is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Smacking

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many responses to the Office of Law Reform's consultation Physical Punishment in the Home supported (a) the law as it stands, (b) a change in the law to restrict smacking by parents and (c) a change in the law to completely ban smacking by parents.

Ian Pearson: "The Office of Law Reform's Consultation Paper—"Physical Punishment in the Home—Thinking about the Issues, Looking at the Evidence" generated a huge amount of interest and attracted almost 1,700 responses.
	Officials have now completed an analysis of those responses and are aiming to publish that analysis, which contains the information requested, in the next few weeks. A copy of the analysis will be placed on the Office of Law Reform's website and I will arrange for a hard copy to be forwarded on as soon as it becomes available."

Speed Cameras

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many speeding detections were made by (a) hand held and (b) permanent cameras between March 2003 and February 2004, broken down by (A) parliamentary constituency and (B) council area; and how many convictions resulted in each case.

Paul Murphy: The Chief Constable has advised me that speed cameras are not located as a result of parliamentary constituency or council area. They are used to enforce speed restrictions in all areas of the Province where there is a history of road traffic collisions resulting in fatalities and serious injuries or where there is evidence of speeding.
	The number of speeding detections made in 2003 are:
	Hand held devices=23,840
	Permanent (fixed) cameras=5,772
	The detections broken down by police districts are:
	
		
			 DCU Hand held devices Fixed cameras 
		
		
			 Antrim 869 — 
			 Newtownards 937 — 
			 East Belfast 831 1,656 
			 North Belfast 547 445 
			 South Belfast 954 — 
			 West Belfast 127 162 
			 Carrickfergus 542 — 
			 Castlereagh 1,865 3,509 
			 Larne 298 — 
			 Lisburn 748 — 
			 Newtownabbey 652 — 
			 North Down 1,126 — 
			 Armagh 497 — 
			 Ballymena 1,898 — 
			 Ballymoney 661 — 
			 Banbridge 2,182 — 
			 Coleraine 719 — 
			 Cookstown 324 — 
			 Craigavon 1,419 — 
			 Down 769 — 
			 Dungannon 459 — 
			 Fermanagh 873 — 
			 Foyle 1,090 — 
			 Limavady 564 — 
			 Magherafelt 762 — 
			 Moyle 10 — 
			 Newry and Mourne 1,200 — 
			 Omagh 614 — 
			 Strabane 303 —

Speed Cameras

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the location of each permanent speed camera in Northern Ireland was between March 2003 and February 2004; how many detections were made by each camera; how many convictions were made as a result; and how much money was generated through speeding fines from each camera.

Paul Murphy: The Chief Constable has advised me that the information is not available in the format requested however, the locations of the four fixed speed cameras and the number of detections in 2003 are:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Saintfield Road, Belfast 3,509 
			 Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast 1,656 
			 Antrim Road, Belfast 445 
			 Springfield Road 162 
		
	
	It is not possible to say how many convictions resulted as the disposal of detections is accomplished in different ways.
	From July 2003 to January 2004 a total of £461,753 has been collected.

Speed Cameras

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many speed cameras were operated by the Police Service of Northern Ireland between March 2003 and February 2004, broken down by (a) parliamentary constituency and (b) council area.

Paul Murphy: The Chief Constable has advised me that speed cameras are not located by parliamentary constituency or council area but are located to enforce speed restrictions in all areas of the Province where there is a history of road traffic collisions resulting in fatalities and serious injuries or where there is evidence of speeding.
	The number of fixed speed cameras in operation by the Police Service is as follows:
	
		
			 Fixed cameras location Police DCU 
		
		
			 Saintfield Road, Belfast Castlereagh area 
			 Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast East Belfast area 
			 Antrim Road, Belfast North Belfast area 
			 Springfield Road, Belfast West Belfast area 
		
	
	In addition there are eight mobile speed cameras, which operate across all of Northern Ireland.

Speed Cameras

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many fixed speed cameras are in operation in Northern Ireland; how many new cameras are planned; how many drivers were caught speeding in each of the last five years; what revenue was raised as a result; where that revenue went; and what assessment he has made of the extent to which these cameras have contributed to a reduction in occurrence of road accidents caused by speeding.

Paul Murphy: Four fixed site safety cameras came into operation in Northern Ireland on 1 July 2003 and installation of a further six to 10 fixed cameras is planned in the next six months. A total of 461,753 has been collected and so far all receipts have been passed to the UK Consolidated Fund.
	Over the last five years 138,044 motorists have been detected by all forms of speed detection equipment for excess speed as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1999 24,696 
			 2000 25,222 
			 2001 28,659 
			 2002 29,855 
			 2003 29,612 
		
	
	It is too early to evaluate the effect of the safety camera scheme in terms of the Government's road casualty reduction targets but indications are that there has been a considerable reduction in speeds at a fixed camera location.

Union Flag

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the flying of the Union flag on public buildings on designated days when the Union flag is flown on Government buildings in Northern Ireland.

John Spellar: The flying of the Union flag from buildings wholly or mainly occupied by members of the Northern Ireland Civil Service is regulated by the Flags Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000. The flying of the Union flag from all other public buildings is a matter for the public authority concerned.

University of Ulster (Car Clamping)

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what (a) personnel and (b) financial resources have been required to deal with the decision of the University of Ulster to introduce car clamping at the campuses of (i) Jordanstown, (ii) Coleraine and (iii) Londonderry; what the impact has been upon the host communities at each location; and what steps he is taking to ensure that the costs incurred by the Police Service of Northern Ireland as a result of this policy will be recouped from the university.

Jane Kennedy: The University of Ulster, which is an autonomous institution responsible for its own policies and practices introduced vehicle clamping due to the lack of ordered parking, which involved, for example, parking in spaces reserved for the disabled, on verges, at corners and other areas marked by double yellow lines, and in ways which dangerously restricted access to entrances and exits. The new arrangements have been put in place to prevent such inconvenience and danger to car park users and have been very successful.
	The University is deeply conscious of the importance of good relations with local residents and has sought the co-operation of both staff and students in not parking in the streets surrounding the University campuses.
	No significant costs have been incurred by the University because clamping is carried out by an external company.
	At Jordanstown, it has been necessary for the police, on a number of occasions, to deploy traffic wardens adjacent to the complex. They have issued in the region of 315 fixed penalty tickets since September 2003.
	At Coleraine and Londonderry there has been minimal impact on local police resources as any illegal parking is dealt with by the local police in the normal course of their duty. It is therefore not possible to provide an estimation of costs.

HEALTH

Allergies

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been (a) conducted and (b) commissioned by his Department into the possible links between environmental pollution and allergies.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department is funding research on air pollution and asthma under its Policy Research Programme. Current work focuses on two areas:
	potential confounding effects of allergens in ambient air in determining the effects of air pollution as asthma exacerbations;
	effects of other air pollutants on patients with asthma.
	A report on air pollution and asthma by the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants is expected to be published in 2005.

Bounty

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that data collected from new mothers by Bounty is (a) subject to the Data Protection Act and (b) not passed on for commercial reasons.

Stephen Ladyman: It is not the role of the Department to regulate private organisations' compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998. Any concerns about whether Bounty is complying with the Data Protection Act 1998 should be raised directly with the Office of the Information Commissioner.

Bounty

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money the NHS has received from Bounty this year; and how much it has received in kind.

Stephen Ladyman: This information is not collected centrally.

Bounty

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that cotton nappies are available in all packs given to mothers of new-born babies.

Stephen Ladyman: Bounty is a commercial company who distributes packs containing free samples and leaflets to pregnant and recently delivered women. Decisions to include cotton nappies in these packs are a matter for Bounty and individual manufacturers of cotton nappies.

Bounty

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that Bounty bags distributed to new mothers through NHS facilities do not include products which (a) adversely affect the health of babies, (b) increase costs to the NHS through charges for the disposal of clinical waste and (c) adversely impact on Government targets for the disposal of clinical waste; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Bounty is a commercial organisation that distributes packs containing information and product samples to pregnant and recently delivered women. The Government have received no evidence to suggest that the products contained in the packs adversely affect the health of babies. Information on costs to the national health service through charges for the disposal of clinical waste as a result of the Bounty pack contents and the impact on Government targets on disposal of clinical waste are not collected centrally.

Care Homes

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the timetable is for the development of (a) accessible and (b) understandable information about care homes to enable consumers to make more informed choices.

Stephen Ladyman: Since 1 April 2002, all care homes have been required, under the Care Homes Regulations and National Minimum Standards, to make plain and accessible information available to residents in an appropriate format. This includes information about the accommodation and services provided by each establishment. The National Care Standards Commission (NCSC) is responsible for regulating care homes to ensure they meet the regulations and standards.
	The NCSC makes available a register of all the services it regulates including details of each establishment and the types of care the service is registered to provide. It publishes reports of the majority of announced and unannounced inspections of regulated services (with exceptions being reports on children's services for child protection reasons). These are available to members of the public both via the internet and in printed form.
	The NCSC will publish before the end of March 2004 its findings of analysis of performance of care homes in meeting the National Minimum Standard on Information to give a national picture of the quality of information provided by care services.
	The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) will take over the functions of the NCSC from 1 April 2004. I understand that CSCI is developing a key corporate objective to ensure, over the next two to three years, that the maximum possible information is available for people in accessible form.

Care Homes

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will delay the implementation of the requirement for care home managers to have an NVQ qualification.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 18 March 2004
	The Government has no plans to postpone the requirement for care home managers to have a National Vocational Qualification by 2005.

Care Homes

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received regarding the simplification of the Statement of Purpose that care homes are required to produce.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 18 March 2004
	The Department has not made any changes to the regulations relating to the Statement of Purpose (SOP) for care homes and we have not received any representations. The SOP contains essential information that assists inspectors in their inspections and is prescribed in regulation. Inspectors will need to take into account the types of service being operated—single businesses or large corporations—when making judgments about the suitability of SOP produced.

Care Homes

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received regarding a reduction in the number of inspections required each year by care homes.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 18 March 2004
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not received any representations regarding a reduction in the number of inspections required each year by care homes.

Change Agent Team

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the work of the Change Agent Team.

Stephen Ladyman: The health and social care change agent team was established two years ago. The team has worked with councils and their National Health Service partners, supporting them to plan and deliver measurably improved services for older people. Changing Places: Report on the work of the Health and Social Care Change Agent Team 2002/3 was published in July 2003 and is available in the Library and at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAnd Guidance/OrganisationPolicy/TertiaryCare/ChangeAgent Team/fs/en.

Charges Revenue

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total revenue was from (a) eye test charges, (b) dental check charges, (c) all other dental charges and (d) prescription charges in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: There is no charge levied for sight tests under the National Health Service, which are provided free to children, people on low incomes and those at particular risk of eye disease. In 1999, we introduced free sight tests under the NHS to people aged 60 and over.
	The information requested on dental charges is shown in table 1 for patient charge revenue (PCR) from the general dental services. The patient charge revenue from examinations covers all categories of patient examinations, including complex examinations. Charges are also collected in personal dental service pilots and for certain limited categories of dental treatment in community and hospital dental services, but detailed data on charge income in these areas is not collected centrally.
	
		Table 1 -- £ million
		
			  Total PCR PCR from examinations PCR for other treatments (excluding PCR from examinations) 
		
		
			 1998–99 420.0 73 347.4 
			 1 999–2000 432.2 77 355.5 
			 2000–01 453,4 81 372.2 
			 2001–02 470.0 85 385.1 
			 2002–03 481.6 88 393.6 
		
	
	Income from prescription charges from 1998–1999 to 2002–03 is shown in table 2.
	
		Table 2
		
			  Income from charges (England) 
		
		
			 1998–99 341 
			 1 999–2000 367 
			 2000–01 389 
			 2001–02 408 
			 2002–03 423

Dentistry

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentures the NHS provided in each year since 2000–01.

Rosie Winterton: Since the National Health Service was founded over 50 years ago, there has been a real and sustained improvement in oral health. Since the 1960s the proportion of adults with no natural teeth has fallen by 65 per cent. and adults with natural teeth now have on average 14 per cent. more.
	Information on the number of dentures provided by the NHS is shown in the table for the general dental service (GDS) and personal dental service (PDS) for England, from the year ending March 2000 to the year ending March 2003.
	
		Number of dentures provided by the NHS
		
			  Year ending March 
			 Type of treatment 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 GDS  
			 Full upper and lower denture 177,880 165,928 153,647 135,531 
			 Full upper or lower denture 105,927 102,217 97,531 95,935 
			 Partial denture(28) 409,090 419,455 409,679 405,088 
			 PDS 6,025 9,083 13,141 18,305 
			 Total 698,922 696,683 673,998 654,858 
		
	
	(28) There may be several partial dentures in a single combination

Dentistry

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health from whom dentists from EU accession states can obtain details of the procedure for obtaining accreditation to (a) set up in private practice and (b) to qualify for employment within the NHS; whether this information is available on a website; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 17 March 2004
	Dentists from European Union accession states will need to contact the General Dental Council to get details of the procedure for registration in the United Kingdom. Advice on English language requirements necessary to practise in the National Health Service is provided on the Department's website at www. dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/HealthAndSocialCare Topics/Dental.
	The National Advice Centre for Postgraduate Dental Education also offers relevant advice. Its website is: www.rcseng.ac.uk/fds/nacpde.

Diabetes

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the total amount of funding provided for diabetes services has been allocated to paediatric diabetes services in (a) Gedling, (b) Broxtowe, (c) Rushcliffe, (d) Nottingham City South and (e) Melton, Rutland and Harborough Primary Care Trusts in the last year; and what amounts those proportions were.

Stephen Ladyman: It is for primary care trusts (PCTs) in partnership with strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, tackling health inequalities and modernising services. Allocations for PCTs were announced on 11 December 2002 and further details can be found at http://www. dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/OrganisationPolicy/FinanceAndPlanning/Allocations/fs/en.

DXA Scans

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time for DXA scans was (a) in total and (b) broken down by strategic health authority in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Waits for diagnostic services are not recorded nationally.
	The Government is committed to improving access to diagnostic services and the Department is working in partnership with strategic health authorities (SHAs) and other stakeholders to secure a more responsive service. Each SHA is responsible for developing and implementing local improvement programmes for diagnostic services and to monitor progress against any locally agreed objectives.

DXA Scans

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals are equipped to perform DXA scans (a) in total and (b) broken down by strategic health authority; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: This information is not collected centrally.

DXA Scans

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average distance travelled by patients in need of a DXA scan has been since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: This information is not collected centrally.

Ebixa

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  which NHS trusts make the drug Ebixa available for people with dementia on the NHS; and which do not;
	(2)  if he will make it his policy to ensure that Ebixa is available, on prescription, to all people suffering from dementia regardless of the NHS trust area in which they live.

Stephen Ladyman: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is appraising Memantine (Ebixa) as part of the eighth wave of its work programme. The anticipated publication date of its guidance is May 2005.
	The Department has asked National Health Service bodies (in HSC 1999/176) to continue with local arrangements for the managed introduction of new technologies, including drugs such as Memantine (Ebixa), where guidance from NICE is not published at the time the technology first became available. These arrangements should involve an assessment of all the available evidence.
	Information about which NHS trusts are prescribing Memantine (Ebixa) is not collected centrally, but data collected about prescriptions dispensed in the community shows that Memantine (Ebixa) has been prescribed on the NHS in all strategic health authorities.

Epilepsy

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the availability of (a) advice on and (b) assistance with the ketogenic diet offered by the NHS.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 12 March 2004
	It is for primary care trusts, in partnership with strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders, to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, tackling health inequalities and modernising services. , This will include responsibility for decisions on the availability of the ketogenic diet and of advice on and assistance with it.

Breast Cancer

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what percentage of women in Buckingham with suspected breast cancer saw a specialist within two weeks in each of the last seven years.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is shown in the table. However, data are only available from 1999–2000.
	
		Waiting times for patients referred urgently by their GP with suspected breast cancer to first out-patient appointment: NHS Trusts in Buckinghamshire
		
			 Quarter/NHS Trust Percentage of patients seen in two weeks Total patients seen Patients seen intwo weeks 
		
		
			 1999–2000
			 Quarter 1
			 Milton Keynes General NHS Trust 94 49 46 
			 South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust 96 82 79 
			 Stoke Mandeville Hospital NHS Trust 100 61 61 
			 
			 Quarter 2
			 Milton Keynes General NHS Trust 100 25 25 
			 South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust 94 87 82 
			 Stoke Mandeville Hospital NHS Trust 100 51 51 
			 
			 Quarter 3
			 Milton Keynes General NHS Trust 100 49 49 
			 South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust 95 100 95 
			 Stoke Mandeville Hospital NHS Trust 100 68 68 
			 
			 Quarter 4
			 Milton Keynes General NHS Trust 100 41 41 
			 South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust 93 97 90 
			 Stoke Mandeville Hospital NHS Trust 98 117 115 
			 
			 2000–01
			 Quarter 1
			 Milton Keynes General NHS Trust 97 59 57 
			 South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust 94 108 101 
			 Stoke Mandeville Hospital NHS Trust 100 90 90 
			 
			 Quarter 2
			 Milton Keynes General NHS Trust 92 59 54 
			 South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust 94 83 78 
			 Stoke Mandeville Hospital NHS Trust 99 93 92 
			 
			 Quarter 3
			 Milton Keynes General NHS Trust 90 79 71 
			 South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust 98 85 83 
			 Stoke Mandeville Hospital NHS Trust 99 121 120 
			 
			 Quarter 4
			 Milton Keynes General NHS Trust 92 53 49 
			 South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust 99 113 112 
			 Stoke Mandeville Hospital NHS Trust 100 101 101 
			 
			 2001–02
			 Quarter 1
			 Milton Keynes General NHS Trust 100 78 78 
			 South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust 89 102 91 
			 Stoke Mandeville Hospital NHS Trust 96 121 116 
			 
			 Quarter 2
			 Milton Keynes General NHS Trust 100 51 51 
			 South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust 65 112 73 
			 Stoke Mandeville Hospital NHS Trust 98 91 89 
			 
			 Quarter 3
			 Milton Keynes General NHS Trust 100 96 96 
			 South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust 99 106 105 
			 Stoke Mandeville Hospital NHS Trust 94 124 116 
			 
			 Quarter 4
			 Milton Keynes General NHS Trust 100 78 78 
			 South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust 100 94 94 
			 Stoke Mandeville Hospital NHS Trust 100 96 96 
			 
			 2002–03
			 Quarter 1
			 Milton Keynes General NHS Trust 94 93 87 
			 South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust 95 103 98 
			 Stoke Mandeville Hospital NHS Trust 100 114 114 
			 Quarter 2
			 Milton Keynes General NHS Trust 96 80 77 
			 South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust 100 106 106 
			 Stoke Mandeville Hospital NHS Trust 100 116 116 
			 
			 Quarter 3
			 Milton Keynes General NHS Trust 97 93 90 
			 South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust 100 124 124 
			 Stoke Mandeville Hospital NHS Trust 100 126 126 
			 
			 Quarter 4
			 Milton Keynes General NHS Trust 100 72 72 
			 South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust 98 124 122  
			 Stoke Mandeville Hospital NHS Trust 100 124 124 
			 
			 2003–04
			 Quarter 1
			 Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust 100 236 235 
			 Milton Keynes General NHS Trust 100 67 67 
			 
			 Quarter 2
			 Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust 99 263 261 
			 Milton Keynes General NHS Trust 100 80 80 
			 Quarter 3
			 Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust 100 322 322 
			 Milton Keynes General NHS Trust 100 104 104 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health form QMCW.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women in England were prescribed hormone replacement therapy, broken down by drug type, in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: We do not know how many women in England are prescribed hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The information that is available is on the number of prescription items of HRT that are dispensed in the community in England. This is shown in the table.
	
		Number of prescription items of Oestrogens and HRT drugs that were dispensed in the community in England, 1997–2002 -- thousands
		
			  Number of prescription items  
			 Chemical Entity 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 Estradiol 1,139.6 1,164.7 1,176.4 1,186.4 1,202.6 1,167.1 
			 Estradiol and Estriol — — — 0.0 0.0 — 
			 Estradiol and Estriol with Progestogen 166.7 142.0 118.8 101.6 86.3 69.8 
			 Estradiol Valerate 244.2 258.5 271.7 282.7 291.4 283.2 
			 Estradiol with Cyproterone Acetate — — 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
			 Estradiol with Progestogen 1,228.8 1,337.4 1,426.5 1,552.3 1,638.5 1,597.3 
			 Estradiol, Estriol and Estrone 76.1 76.4 69.9 68.4 68.2 63.6 
			 Estriol 1.9 1.8 1.9 2.0 2.2 2.1 
			 Estropipate 63.7 58.9 56.4 52.0 46.6 39.6 
			 Estropipate with Progestogen 3.4 3.0 0.9 0.0 0.0 — 
			 Ethinylestradiol 36.2 32.3 30.2 28.1 26.5 23.9 
			 Mestranol With Progestogen 16.2 13.7 7.3 0.1 — 0.0 
			 Oestrogens Conjugated 1,120.5 1,101.0 1,091.5 1,080.9 1,058.5 976.3 
			 Oestrogens Conjugated with Progestogen 1,409.2 1,392.6 1,355.8 1,317.5 1,269.8 1,113.3 
			 Oestrogens Esterified With Androgen — — 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
			 Other Preparations 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 — — 
			 Raloxifene Hydrochloride — 4.1 43.4 79.9 119.0 160.7 
			 Tibolone 334.3 349.0 387.5 425.4 454.3 464.2 
			
			 Total for Oestrogens and HRT 5,840.8 5,935.6 6,038.2 6,177.5 6,263.8 5,961.0 
		
	
	Notes
	1. Oestrogens and HRT are defined as those drugs within the British National Formulary (BNF) paragraph 6.4.1.1.
	2. The data are from the Prescription Cost Analysis system and cover all prescription items dispensed in the community in England. Information on items dispensed in hospitals or private prescriptions is not available.
	3. "—" indicates no data. 0.0 indicates less than 50 items were dispensed.
	Source
	Prescription Cost Analysis (PCA) data from the Prescription Pricing Authority (PPA)

Hospitals (Body Disposal Procedures)

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether NHS hospital staff are obliged to see green forms issued by a registrar of births, marriages and deaths prior to the release of a body;
	(2)  what powers NHS staff have to prevent the release of a body from a hospital solely because funeral arrangements have not been made;
	(3)  under what powers staff in the NHS must release the bodies of those who die in hospitals.

Rosie Winterton: holding answers 15 March 2004
	The Department recognises how important it is that national health service staff are sensitive to the needs of people who die in hospital and the relatives of dying or deceased patients. Guidance to the NHS on the need to ensure this (HSG(92)8, "Patients who die in hospital" and its supplementary guidance HSG(97)43) was published in 1992 and 1997, respectively.
	However, the law governing the disposal of bodies is complex. When a patient dies in hospital, the trust chief executive has lawful possession 1 of the body until someone with better title claims the body. This can include a coroner, whose powers can override the right of the next of kin to call for possession of the body. Hospital authorities must, therefore, ensure that a body is not, and will not be, the subject of a coroner's inquiry before releasing it.
	Additionally, any death in England and Wales must be reported to the Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths for the sub-district in which the death occurred 2 . The person registering the death receives the Registrar's Certificate of Burial or Cremation (commonly known as the "Green Form"), which authorises disposal of a body, so that it can then be given to the person disposing of the body (usually, but not necessarily, the undertaker).
	National guidance therefore highlights the need for NHS trusts to document the movement of, and identify, bodies correctly before transferring them to relatives or undertakers. This guidance is currently being updated following the Chief Medical Officer's recommendation in his report, "The Removal, Retention and Use of Human Organs and Tissue from Post-Mortem Examination" (2001).
	In line with "Shifting the Balance of Power", it is the responsibility of the NHS to interpret how best to follow such guidance, in accordance with local circumstances.
	1 Section 1 (7) of the Human Tissue Act 1961.
	2 Section 15, Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 and Regulation 41 of the Registration of Births and Deaths Regulations 1987.

Marlow Day Hospital

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many responses have been received from patients in relation to recent consultations carried out at Marlow Day Hospital.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 18 March 2004
	The Marlow Day Hospital closed on 28 November 2003, following a six-week internal consultation process with staff as prescribed in the trust's human resources policies. In view of the plan to re-provide an equivalent service for the population of Marlow at the other day hospitals based at Wycombe Hospital and Amersham Hospital, there was no formal public consultation during this period.
	Marlow Community Hospital, which is on the same site but managed by Wycombe Primary Care Trust, was unaffected by this change of service.

Medicines and Healthcare ProductsRegulatory Agency

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Head of Enforcement at the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has a (a) past and (b) present connection with the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline.

Rosie Winterton: The head of medicines inspection and enforcement at the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency was employed from 1970 until 1997 by Glaxo, latterly Glaxo Wellcome. He has no present connections with Glaxo Smith Kline.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many specialists in myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) are employed in the NHS; how many sufferers from ME there are in (a) each of the Wakefield primary care trusts, (b) West Yorkshire and (c) the UK; what diagnostic tests for ME are recommended to general practitioners by the Department; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department does not collect numbers of specialists in myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME).
	The Department does not routinely collect statistics on the prevalence of individual conditions like ME. The report of the independent chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) working group, published in January 2002, estimated a population prevalence of around 0.2 to 0.4 per cent. in adults and around 0.07 per cent. in children.
	We have asked the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to develop a clinical guideline for the diagnosis and management of CFS/ME. The report of the independent CFS/ME working group, published in January 2002, provides a source of advice to general practitioners on recognition of this debilitating and distressing condition.

Older People (Medication)

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what representations he has received on poor concordance with medication for older people living in sheltered housing;
	(2)  what monitoring is undertaken by his Department of the medication of older people with particular reference to (a) concordance and (b) over-medication; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what guidance he has provided to staff at extra care sheltered housing schemes with regard to management and administration of the medicines of frail elderly people.

Stephen Ladyman: I am not aware of any representations suggesting there is a particular problem with the use of medications in sheltered housing.
	The National Minimum Standards for Care Homes for Older People set out the requirements care homes are expected to meet and include a standard on medication.
	The regulatory body, the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC), takes the standard into account when carrying out inspections of care homes.
	National Minimum Standards for Domiciliary Care Agencies set out the requirements that agency staff are expected to meet and these also include a standard on medication. The standards apply to agencies providing personal care to people in their own homes, including extra care housing and sheltered housing schemes. The NCSC takes the standard into account when they register and inspect domiciliary care agencies.
	The NCSC and, from 1 April 2004, the Commission for Social Care Inspection, has the powers to take whatever enforcement action it considers necessary in the event of poor management or administration of medicines including overmedication.

Older People (Medication)

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many adverse drug reactions and adverse incidents relating to the medication of older people living in sheltered housing there were in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Reports of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to medicines are collated by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) through the spontaneous reporting scheme, the Yellow Card scheme.
	The table shows details of the number of reports of suspected adverse drug reactions received through the Yellow Card scheme in 2003 for individuals aged 60 years and above. The figures provided relate to the number of reports received. Some reports may contain more than one reaction.
	
		Reports received between 1January 2003 and 31December 2003
		
			 Age range (years) Number of reports received 
		
		
			 60–69 2,389 
			 70–79 2,231 
			 80–89 1,234 
			 90+ 196 
		
	
	We cannot specify whether any of these reports relate to individuals in sheltered housing, as residential details of patients are not collected by this scheme.
	It is important to note that data from the Yellow Card scheme, as for all spontaneous reporting schemes, is limited by under-reporting. This does not impair its usefulness for detection of signals of emerging drug safety issues but means that numbers of reports are not complete. A report of an adverse reaction does not necessarily mean that it was caused by the medicine. Additionally, a range of factors may affect how an individual responds to a medicine, for example, their medical history and underlying disease conditions and other concomitant medication.
	Use of medicines in the elderly is higher than in other age groups and elderly patients are more likely to be using combinations of medicines.

Organ Donors

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to encourage voluntary organ donation; and how much the Government has spent promoting on (a) organ donor cards and (b) the organ donor register in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: People are encouraged to join the organ donor register through a number of initiatives, including when they apply for a driving licence, register with a new general practitioner or, apply for a new passport. Additionally, UK Transplant runs publicity campaigns and targets action to raise the profile of organ donation, including specific advertising and information campaigns to increase organ donation from the South Asian and black African and Caribbean populations.
	UK Transplant is currently running a pilot scheme with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency to send out organ donor registration forms to all vehicle owners with the road tax reminder during January, March and April this year. The pilot will cover nine million vehicles and UK Transplant will assess the effectiveness of the pilot later in the year. There are currently over 11 million people on the register—19 per cent. of the United Kingdom population.
	The amount spent for organ donation publicity and advertising for each year since 1997 is shown in the table.
	
		£ thousand
		
			  Advertising Publicity 
		
		
			 1997–98 20 420 
			 1998–99 770 760 
			 1999–2000 470 460 
			 2000–01 430 450 
			 2001–02 180 720 
			 2002–03 210 690 
		
	
	UK Transplant took over responsibility for the organ donation campaign work from the Department of Health in April 2003. UK Transplant's overall budget is over £9 million, of which £900,000 is for publicity.

Prescription Charges

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which medical conditions have become exempt from prescription charges in the last 30 years, broken down by year.

Rosie Winterton: No medical conditions have become exempt from prescription charges in the last 30 years.

Incontinence

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what funding his Department has allocated for future years for research into incontinence resulting from childbirth;
	(2)  what research has been undertaken in the UK by the public sector on incontinence directly resulting from childbirth; what research on the subject conducted by private sector organisations he has received; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Details of research projects relating to both incontinence and childbirth funded by, or of interest to, the National Health Service are available on the National Research Register (NRR) at www.update-software.com/national. The NRR currently contains details of four on-going and around 30 completed projects in this area. Many of these projects are funded through allocations made annually to NHS providers for research to meet the priorities and needs of the NHS and to meet the costs to the NHS of hosting research supported by external funders. The total amount allocated to NHS providers in 2003–04 for research and development was £442 million.
	The Department has not received any research conducted by private sector organisations on incontinence directly resulting from childbirth.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Education Statistics

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many 14 to 16 year olds in England did not receive full-time education in each of the last five years.

David Miliband: The requested information is not held centrally.
	The Department is, however, supporting local authorities (LAs) to develop robust systems to identify and track children missing education or at risk of doing so. All LAs have a named contact for issues relating to children missing from education and the Department is encouraging networking between different authorities. It is also sharing good practice on working with children missing from education by circulating new guidance to LAs and holding a series of regional seminars in Spring 2004.

Looked-after Children

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many looked-after children had (a) a yearly dental health check and (b) up-to-date child immunisations, broken down by local authority in each year since 1994; and what the figures were for all children.

Margaret Hodge: Information on the number of looked-after children that had yearly dental health checks and up-to-date immunisations was not collected centrally between 1994 and 1999. Since 2000 these figures for looked after children have been collected at local authority level and reported to government. Details are provided in the following table. Equivalent figures are not collected centrally for the child population as a whole.
	
		Looked after children who had their teeth checked by a dentist and whose immunisations were up to date: 2000, 2001 and 2002, England
		
			  Children who had their teeth checked by a dentist 
			  2000 2001 2002 
			 Local authority Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage 
		
		
			 England(29) 26,800 63 29,200 67 31,800 72 
			
			 Barking and Dagenham 65 41 70 33 220 85 
			 Barnet 45 27 80 41 180 74 
			 Barnsley 205 81 200 82 170 83 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 95 88 100 92 100 84 
			 Bedfordshire 235 88 235 85 275 88 
			 Bexley 90 67 120 90 150 94 
			 Birmingham 105 8 265 20 1,100 74 
			 Blackburn with Darwen (30)— (30)— 90 44 170 76 
			 Blackpool (30)— (30)— 165 71 160 82 
			 Bolton 165 77 160 79 160 82 
			 Bournemouth 75 56 135 88 115 76 
			 Bracknell Forest 25 52 30 72 35 77 
			 Bradford 400 75 435 83 460 80 
			 Brent 95 68 180 83 195 75 
			 Brighton and Hove 225 81 240 90 230 84 
			 Bristol 245 56 310 77 285 78 
			 Bromley 125 64 130 54 150 66 
			 Buckinghamshire (30)— (30)— 145 69 155 81 
			 Bury 35 25 70 44 135 67 
			 Calderdale 95 62 85 61 60 45 
			 Cambridgeshire 265 87 240 89 215 85 
			 Camden 165 73 160 68 145 62 
			 Cheshire 330 92 310 92 330 92 
			 City of London — 100 — — — — 
			 Cornwall 265 65 205 50 295 75 
			 Coventry 185 48 260 64 255 69 
			 Croydon 245 94 265 79 390 88 
			 Cumbria 135 54 245 58 300 69 
			 Darlington 15 19 55 63 50 54 
			 Derby 280 83 275 85 245 82 
			 Derbyshire 375 85 395 87 365 86 
			 Devon (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 415 79 
			 Doncaster 170 58 205 65 225 69 
			 Dorset (30)— (30)— 150 88 155 88 
			 Dudley 215 77 210 73 200 68 
			 Durham 320 83 220 65 240 72 
			 Ealing 135 41 50 17 220 72 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 80 49 65 43 105 69 
			 East Sussex 325 95 285 87 310 88 
			 Enfield 145 77 165 86 130 63 
			 Essex 565 66 585 66 665 77 
			 Gateshead 145 80 170 86 135 72 
			 Gloucestershire 240 72 370 89 240 59 
			 Greenwich 225 75 285 84 340 94 
			 Hackney (30)— (30)— 335 85 310 83 
			 Halton 100 82 100 90 125 93 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 95 32 200 64 225 73 
			 Hampshire (30)— (30)— 135 19 265 37 
			 Haringey 140 54 185 67 185 65 
			 Harrow 80 74 80 87 110 91 
			 Hartlepool 15 18 55 69 70 88 
			 Havering 85 88 95 86 110 92 
			 Herefordshire 125 80 155 98 145 94 
			 Hertfordshire 280 45 435 68 465 68 
			 Hillingdon 185 88 230 90 220 78 
			 Hounslow 95 48 110 48 205 80 
			 Isle of Wight 110 86 105 88 105 85 
			 Isles of Scilly — — 0 0 — — 
			 Islington 160 41 130 33 95 27 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 125 79 125 76 125 70 
			 Kent (30)— (30)— 895 77 870 79 
			 Kingston upon Hull 385 75 370 84 320 73 
			 Kingston upon Thames 55 90 60 100 50 89 
			 Kirklees 205 88 165 76 175 89 
			 Knowsley 130 67 130 66 125 70 
			 Lambeth (30)— (30)— 300 51 255 46 
			 Lancashire 665 62 740 75 675 69 
			 Leeds 750 75 560 55 710 66 
			 Leicester 200 63 240 63 265 75 
			 Leicestershire 115 65 115 59 130 66 
			 Lewisham 145 40 110 28 255 57 
			 Lincolnshire 295 83 285 74 295 79 
			 Liverpool 340 35 530 55 560 60 
			 Luton 195 92 225 87 245 87 
			 Manchester 675 68 710 74 720 77 
			 Medway Towns 245 95 225 87 165 94 
			 Merton 25 18 35 24 70 53 
			 Middlesbrough 100 76 150 87 175 96 
			 Milton Keynes 165 73 120 67 130 80 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 105 33 235 82 250 76 
			 Newham (30)— (30)— 160 47 205 51 
			 Norfolk 400 91 455 93 460 91 
			 North East Lincolnshire 25 12 25 12 55 29 
			 North Lincolnshire 115 79 145 95 115 81 
			 North Somerset 75 70 85 79 100 91 
			 North Tyneside 155 70 155 70 105 45 
			 North Yorkshire 175 78 255 92 220 92 
			 Northamptonshire 320 75 375 83 345 78 
			 Northumberland 40 20 130 65 140 71 
			 Nottingham 385 89 395 92 310 84 
			 Nottinghamshire 305 86 295 80 325 93 
			 Oldham 140 65 (30)— (30)— 150 56 
			 Oxfordshire 290 85 270 82 285 83 
			 Peterborough 205 70 250 84 210 79 
			 Plymouth 115 40 225 63 280 81 
			 Poole 75 72 60 60 90 76 
			 Portsmouth 30 17 145 84 145 80 
			 Reading 75 79 70 75 85 83 
			 Redbridge 85 89 80 90 80 80 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 70 65 60 49 85 83 
			 Richmond upon Thames 25 44 70 92 85 96 
			 Rochdale 145 79 160 78 160 76 
			 Rotherham 190 73 165 58 200 63 
			 Rutland — 60 — 71 — — 
			 Salford 205 47 210 44 230 49 
			 Sandwell 145 46 265 76 190 51 
			 Sefton 155 78 190 76 135 54 
			 Sheffield 125 26 135 27 85 17 
			 Shropshire 70 54 90 74 75 58 
			 Slough 55 56 60 55 80 68 
			 Solihull (30)— (30)— 100 91 105 83 
			 Somerset 70 34 165 88 180 88 
			 South Gloucestershire 85 86 80 82 80 89 
			 South Tyneside 160 73 165 81 155 76 
			 Southampton 120 41 100 34 185 64 
			 Southend 115 61 135 80 170 89 
			 Southwark 245 49 295 54 360 71 
			 St. Helens 120 58 135 63 140 70 
			 Staffordshire (30)— (30)— 165 45 170 45 
			 Stockport 165 59 210 74 310 99 
			 Stockton on Tees 140 92 130 91 105 86 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 210 76 240 85 230 83 
			 Suffolk 310 75 395 80 310 60 
			 Sunderland 325 88 300 78 335 90 
			 Surrey 290 55 290 55 290 54 
			 Sutton 70 66 105 84 105 92 
			 Swindon 45 35 45 38 65 50 
			 Tameside 175 68 175 90 135 72 
			 Telford and Wrekin 80 75 100 93 110 85 
			 Thurrock 80 69 100 75 125 78 
			 Torbay 135 74 125 76 130 91 
			 Tower Hamlets 160 83 15 7 15 5 
			 Trafford 75 84 90 80 75 59 
			 Wakefield 290 85 255 74 185 54 
			 Walsall 230 85 265 91 285 87 
			 Waltham Forest 105 62 85 50 160 69 
			 Wandsworth 225 88 110 46 215 87 
			 Warrington 90 68 60 53 75 57 
			 Warwickshire 185 82 190 82 185 74 
			 West Berkshire 95 97 85 91 85 95 
			 West Sussex 105 23 540 95 510 93 
			 Westminster 155 76 110 56 145 72 
			 Wigan 320 88 315 87 270 84 
			 Wiltshire 145 87 155 89 170 87 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 50 96 50 94 40 100 
			 Wirral 205 74 235 73 270 75 
			 Wokingham 45 65 35 61 30 57 
			 Wolverhampton 200 64 190 69 215 76 
			 Worcestershire 260 55 275 60 330 78 
			 York 60 69 50 51 75 79 
		
	
	
		
			   Children whose immunisations were up to date 
			   2000  2001  2002 
			 Local authority Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage 
		
		
			 England(29) 29,000 69 30,800 71 32,400 73 
			
			 Barking and Dagenham 50 34 165 80 80 32 
			 Barnet 75 44 100 51 150 63 
			 Barnsley 215 84 235 96 200 98 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 95 89 90 81 65 58 
			 Bedfordshire 245 93 240 87 260 84 
			 Bexley 90 68 125 92 155 97 
			 Birmingham 930 68 1,015 77 970 65 
			 Blackburn with Darwen (30)— (30)— 180 90 175 80 
			 Blackpool (30)— (30)— 210 91 180 92 
			 Bolton 165 77 130 65 140 72 
			 Bournemouth 105 78 145 95 130 86 
			 Bracknell Forest 15 39 25 62 30 65 
			 Bradford 385 73 400 77 465 81 
			 Brent 55 42 145 65 185 71 
			 Brighton and Hove 230 83 210 78 230 83 
			 Bristol 320 73 345 86 335 91 
			 Bromley 135 70 65 26 130 57 
			 Buckinghamshire 120 49 160 76 180 94 
			 Bury 25 18 115 72 150 75 
			 Calderdale 115 75 110 78 75 58 
			 Cambridgeshire 270 90 225 83 220 86 
			 Camden 190 84 115 49 125 54 
			 Cheshire 345 97 325 96 345 96 
			 City of London — 100 — — — — 
			 Cornwall 285 70 225 55 280 72 
			 Coventry 350 90 280 68 310 84 
			 Croydon 245 94 245 73 360 81 
			 Cumbria (30)— (30)— 235 57 220 51 
			 Darlington 55 61 50 56 75 80 
			 Derby 310 93 320 98 255 86 
			 Derbyshire 425 96 415 92 405 96 
			 Devon (30)— (30)— 355 69 385 74 
			 Doncaster 190 65 230 71 220 68 
			 Dorset 145 81 160 93 165 93 
			 Dudley 250 89 270 94 250 86 
			 Durham 50 13 220 65 240 72 
			 Ealing 110 34 35 11 175 57 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 105 65 115 75 110 70 
			 East Sussex 315 91 295 90 330 94 
			 Enfield 110 59 85 43 95 47 
			 Essex 675 78 775 88 790 91 
			 Gateshead 105 58 145 71 175 91 
			 Gloucestershire 185 55 380 91 325 80 
			 Greenwich 260 86 315 92 355 97 
			 Hackney (30)— (30)— 80 21 160 43 
			 Halton 105 87 85 79 120 90 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 85 29 185 60 190 62 
			 Hampshire (30)— (30)— 105 14 245 34 
			 Haringey 160 62 185 66 220 78 
			 Harrow 85 78 80 89 110 93 
			 Hartlepool 40 51 60 77 70 91 
			 Havering 95 97 105 96 115 96 
			 Herefordshire 150 94 140 86 105 69 
			 Hertfordshire 345 56 565 89 530 77 
			 Hillingdon 180 86 235 91 260 92 
			 Hounslow 105 55 165 73 210 82 
			 Isle of Wight 120 94 115 98 120 97 
			 Isles of Scilly — — 0 0 — — 
			 Islington 250 65 110 28 105 30 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 135 86 135 82 155 88 
			 Kent (30)— (30)— 745 64 920 83 
			 Kingston upon Hull 395 78 310 70 290 66 
			 Kingston upon Thames 55 90 55 89 50 84 
			 Kirklees 220 96 195 90 150 76 
			 Knowsley 105 54 115 58 140 78 
			 Lambeth (30)— (30)— 310 53 270 49 
			 Lancashire 920 86 845 86 575 58 
			 Leeds 520 52 505 49 585 54 
			 Leicester 275 86 315 84 280 78 
			 Leicestershire 150 84 180 92 175 91 
			 Lewisham 115 32 240 62 340 77 
			 Lincolnshire 325 91 315 82 320 85 
			 Liverpool 575 59 540 56 675 72 
			 Luton 185 88 220 85 235 85 
			 Manchester 80 8 335 35 445 47 
			 Medway Towns 250 96 255 98 170 95 
			 Merton 30 20 30 23 95 70 
			 Middlesbrough 115 89 160 95 175 95 
			 Milton Keynes 200 88 155 87 150 93 
			 Newcastle Upon Tyne 70 21 225 78 270 82 
			 Newham (30)— (30)— 180 52 105 26 
			 Norfolk 420 94 475 97 485 95 
			 North East Lincolnshire 150 74 90 47 135 71 
			 North Lincolnshire 130 92 150 100 135 95 
			 North Somerset 60 58 90 82 80 73 
			 North Tyneside 200 92 200 91 235 100 
			 North Yorkshire 175 79 255 92 220 93 
			 Northamptonshire 205 48 415 91 395 89 
			 Northumberland 25 12 170 84 180 90 
			 Nottingham 400 93 420 98 340 92 
			 Nottinghamshire 340 96 320 87 335 95 
			 Oldham 175 82 160 69 175 66 
			 Oxfordshire 315 93 235 71 300 88 
			 Peterborough 55 19 220 75 210 78 
			 Plymouth 205 72 260 72 285 83 
			 Poole 60 56 65 63 90 75 
			 Portsmouth 105 59 125 74 65 37 
			 Reading 80 85 85 89 95 93 
			 Redbridge 85 88 90 97 85 81 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 85 78 40 35 65 62 
			 Richmond upon Thames 40 68 70 95 85 94 
			 Rochdale 180 97 170 84 205 98 
			 Rotherham 160 61 225 77 220 68 
			 Rutland — 60 — 57 — — 
			 Salford 170 39 240 51 280 60 
			 Sandwell 255 82 300 87 200 55 
			 Sefton 120 62 160 65 215 85 
			 Sheffield 320 65 255 50 250 49 
			 Shropshire 85 65 80 65 85 65 
			 Slough 80 78 80 74 75 66 
			 Solihull 90 79 75 65 80 65 
			 Somerset 85 39 140 76 185 92 
			 South Gloucestershire 80 79 85 86 75 82 
			 South Tyneside 125 56 145 71 150 74 
			 Southampton 180 63 180 62 225 78 
			 Southend 65 34 150 91 160 83 
			 Southwark 135 27 285 52 405 80 
			 St. Helens 100 48 105 50 145 73 
			 Staffordshire (30)— (30)— (30)— (30)— 220 58 
			 Stockport 155 56 85 30 210 67 
			 Stockton on Tees 150 99 130 94 85 70 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 235 85 265 93 250 89 
			 Suffolk 360 88 475 97 210 41 
			 Sunderland 300 81 295 77 325 87 
			 Surrey 390 74 320 61 235 44 
			 Sutton 85 78 100 80 75 64 
			 Swindon 65 55 55 47 75 56 
			 Tameside 165 65 180 92 165 87 
			 Telford and Wrekin 55 54 70 64 80 61 
			 Thurrock 65 59 105 80 125 78 
			 Torbay 125 69 125 76 115 83 
			 Tower Hamlets 150 79 20 10 270 100 
			 Trafford 80 91 80 71 95 78 
			 Wakefield 295 86 175 52 170 50 
			 Walsall 260 96 265 92 280 87 
			 Waltham Forest 70 40 80 45 80 35 
			 Wandsworth 155 61 190 78 175 71 
			 Warrington 70 52 75 65 85 67 
			 Warwickshire 190 85 215 92 230 92 
			 West Berkshire 95 98 90 98 85 97 
			 West Sussex 395 83 515 91 525 95 
			 Westminster 135 66 175 89 180 89 
			 Wigan 340 94 315 87 260 80 
			 Wiltshire 155 92 160 93 180 93 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 45 94 50 92 40 100 
			 Wirral 210 76 235 74 265 75 
			 Wokingham 45 68 15 24 25 45 
			 Wolverhampton 285 91 250 91 265 94 
			 Worcestershire 215 46 300 66 345 81 
			 York 85 99 75 74 70 73 
		
	
	(29) All figures presented at England level include estimates for missing data.
	(30) Information not available.
	Notes:
	1. "—" depicts a small number that has been suppressed to preserve confidentiality
	2. All numbers have been rounded to the nearest five.
	Source:
	OC2 return.

"Every Child Matters"

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total cost was of drafting, publishing and circulating "Every Child Matters: Next Steps"; and to how many people the document was sent.

Margaret Hodge: "Every Child Matters: The Next Steps" was published for three purposes:
	To reflect what the Government was told in consultation on the Children's Green Paper, "Every Child Matters". Some 4,500 responses were received, two-thirds of them from children and young people;
	To put into context the Children Bill, published on the same day as the document;
	To provide information to external partners, assisting them in taking forward the changes set out in the Green Paper and developed through discussions with a wide range of external partners.
	The figures in the following table are estimates of the costs involved in drafting, publishing and distributing 'Every Child Matters: The Next Steps'.
	
		£000
		
			 Item Cost 
		
		
			 Drafting 17 
			 Publishing 24 
			 Initial distribution 3 
		
	
	The cost so far is therefore approximately £44,000.
	Around 4,000 copies were distributed initially, leaving around 11,000 copies available for ordering by interested parties. We anticipate that many others will download the documents from the DfES website.

Child Care

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much the Government has spent on pre-school education and child care per head of children below compulsory school age in each year since 1998.

David Miliband: My Department does not collect this information.

Child Care

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps his Department is taking to tackle the regional disparities in the availability of child care places for children under compulsory school age.

Margaret Hodge: The Government are providing substantial new resources to increase the availability of high quality child care for all age groups of children. Funding for 2004–06 has been specifically targeted towards those local authorities with lower levels of child care in order to reduce regional disparities.
	By December 2003, more than 920,000 new child care places had been created since 1997, benefiting over 1.6 million children. We are on track to create places for over 2 million children by 2006. All four-year-olds have been guaranteed a free early education place since 1998. With effect from 1 April 2004, every three-year-old will be able to access a free place, six months earlier than originally planned.

Children (Classifications)

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills within which age ranges a young child is classified as (a) a baby and (b) an infant for official purposes.

Ruth Kelly: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell to Charles Hendry, dated 22 March 2004
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking within which age ranges a young child is classified as (a) a baby and (b) an infant for official purposes. (162802)
	In National Statistics there is no single official definition of the word 'baby' or the word 'infant' in relation to age. Both may have different meanings depending on the context in which they are used.

Children's Services Authority (Lancashire)

Hilton Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the possible problems of co-ordination that might arise from the establishment of a local safeguarding board to cover a Lancashire children's services authority under Clause 9 of the Children Bill.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 16 March 2004
	The responses to the consultation on the Green Paper, "Every Child Matters", strongly supported the vision it set out and included a great deal of helpful feedback on the practical issues county councils and other partners will need to address in implementing the proposed changes. "Every Child Matters: Next Steps", published on 4 March, sets out the Government's proposals for both legislative change and a programme for change and support for local leadership in delivering those reforms, ahead of the 2004 Spending Review.
	We have also begun informal discussions with local authority associations including the Local Government Association and the Association of Directors of Social Services. We will consult formally on regulations and guidance on Local Safeguarding Children Boards in due course.

Children's Services Authority (Lancashire)

Hilton Dawson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the possible practical problems that might arise from the designation of Lancashire county council as a children's services authority under Clause 6 of the Children Bill.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 16 March 2004
	The responses to the consultation Green Paper, "Every Child Matters" included a great deal of helpful advice on the practical challenges that large and complex county councils such as Lancashire face in implementing the proposed changes. We do not underestimate those challenges and will work in close partnership with councils, local authorities and other partners to address them. Our plans to support authorities include appointing regional change advisers, producing statutory guidance, and developing and sharing good practice and examples of delivery models.

Class Sizes

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children in Buckingham were taught in classes of more than 30 on the latest date for which figures are available.

Stephen Twigg: The data requested are shown in the table.
	
		Maintained primary and secondary schools: classes of more than 30(31) Buckingham Parliamentary Constituency—January 2003
		
			 Total numberof classes Total numberof pupils Number of classes with more than 30 pupils Number of pupils in classes of more than 30 
		
		
			  Primary schools 
			 Key Stage 1 
			 113 2,610 1 33 
			 Key Stage 2 
			 161 4,208 26 838 
			  Secondary schools 
			  All secondary classes 
			 180 3,976 7 229 
		
	
	(31) One teacher classes.
	Source:
	Annual Schools' Census

Connexions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the progress central Government has made in supporting Connexions Partnerships by (a) linking its policies together at national level, (b) sending consistent messages to all Connexions partner agencies and (c) reducing bureaucracy, as set out in Youth Support Services for 13 to 19-year-olds: A Vision for 2006.

Margaret Hodge: From the outset of Connexions, Government departments have worked together in partnership with external groups such as the police, social services, health services, schools and local communities to implement coherent policies for young people. Through joint working, central Government have developed guidance and targets to support consistent approaches by Connexions Partnerships and other agencies in tackling a wide range of challenging objectives, including reducing the number of young people not in education training or employment; halving the number of teenage conceptions and raising the participation of teenage mothers in learning; improving outcomes for disabled children and looked after children; supporting runaways; tackling drugs misuse; preventing offending by young people and building community cohesion.
	Bureaucracy has been reduced through a range of approaches initiated by central Government including, a Supporting Better Delivery Action Plan in which central Government has reduced administrative burdens on Connexions Partnerships; 'reality testing' with 'twinned' Government Offices and Connexions Partnerships; controlling the volume of paperwork distributed from the centre; structured communication channels; and the setting up of a bureaucracy log on the Connexions website.

Connexions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance his Department has issued to Connexions partnership Chief Executives concerning partnerships' VAT liability.

Margaret Hodge: Connexions Partnerships were advised in November 2002 that HM Customs and Excise had ruled that the Connexions grant would fall outside the scope of VAT from 1 April 2004. This means they will be unable to recover any VAT they incur on Connexions business from that date. We are asking Partnerships to look at improving their tax efficiency by moving to different structures where they feel this is appropriate.

Connexions

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what initiatives have developed from the Achieving Together conference for Connexions partnerships and the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) and other youth service providers to ensure that Connexions works better with the VCS.

Margaret Hodge: The "Achieving Together for Young People" conference, which was held in Solihull in June 2003, was the first national event bringing together representatives from Connexions Partnerships, Connexions teams in Government Offices for the Regions, voluntary and community organisations and Neighbourhood Support Fund (NSF) Projects, The event was designed and delivered in partnership with the VCS. It used NSF as a case study of how voluntary and community organisations could deliver services to young people. The conference was attended by 300 delegates.
	Feedback from the event suggests that the conference was largely successful in meeting its aims, in particular, in helping to facilitate the further development of partnership working between Connexions Partnerships and the Voluntary and Community Sector in providing better services for young people and in sharing good practice on joint working. The conference was also a showcase for Connexions to demonstrate its commitment to involving young people who were actively involved in running workshops and in producing the conference report.
	The conference confirmed earlier evidence that some Connexions partnerships were further ahead in terms of involving the VCS in their work than others, and that newer partnerships in particular could benefit from the help of others. This led to the establishment of a small informal advisory group of six VCS Co-ordinators from partnerships who were leading the field in terms of their involvement with the Sector. Members of the advisory group are contacted by other Partnerships for advice on building their engagement. In addition, a smaller follow-up national event was held in February 2004 for Connexions VCS Co-ordinators that enabled the exchange of ideas and good practice.

Departmental Contracts

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the value of contracts awarded by the Department to (a) PricewaterhouseCoopers, (b) KPMG, (c) Ernst and Young, (d) Deloitte and Touche, (e) McKinsey, (f) Bain and Co., (g) CfBT, (h) Westminster Education Consultants and (i) VT Education was in (i) 2001, (ii) 2002 and (iii) 2003.

Stephen Twigg: holding answer 9 March 2004
	My Department does not hold a central record of individual contracts. However, our financial records show the following total payments made by the Department to (a) PricewaterhouseCoopers, (b) KPMG, (c) Ernst and Young, (d) Deloitte and Touche, (e) McKinsey, (f) Bain and Co., (g) CfBT, (h) Westminster Education Consultants and (i) VT Education in financial years 2001–02, 2002–03 and 2003–04 to date.
	
		£
		
			 Organisation 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 to date 
		
		
			 PricewaterhouseCoopers 5,349,686 3,847,542 3,503,286 
			 KPMG 396,353 1,014,559 1,312,198 
			 Ernst and Young 0 38,449 0 
			 Deloitte and Touche 275,594 201,670 242,971 
			 McKinsey 0 0 0 
			 Bain and Co. 0 0 0 
			 CfBT(32) 47,072,194 55,759,330 36,406,560 
			 Westminster Education Consultants 1,045,168 1,172,785 691,842 
			 VT Education 0 0 0 
		
	
	(32) The payments to CfBT are principally represented by the National Strategies. This contract represents around 80 per cent. of the total CfBT costs shown.

Deprivation

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the Index for Multiple Deprivation is for each local education authority.

David Miliband: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

Deprivation

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what criteria are used to determine the level of deprivation used in calculating per pupil funding.

David Miliband: The Education Formula Spending Share formula is used to allocate education funding for each local education authority. This formula comprises a basic entitlement for each pupil plus top-ups for deprivation and where it costs more to recruit and retain teachers, using data from the New Earnings Survey. The deprivation measures used are i) children in families in receipt of Income Support; ii) children in families in receipt of Working Families Tax Credit; iii) proportion of primary children with English as an additional language and iv) proportion of secondary children in low-achieving ethnic groups.

Drugs Advisers

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement about (a) the future of drugs advisers and (b) their funding in Essex schools.

Stephen Twigg: Funding for school drug advisers (£7.5 million per year) has been made available through the Standards Fund since 2001. From April 2004 it will be up to local education authorities and schools to support drug education, including school drug adviser posts, out of the total resources available to them. The Department does not hold information centrally on the number of school drug advisers within each local education authority.
	Young people will continue to receive advice and support on drug issues from schools, the Connexions Service and a range of local agencies.

Future Schools Initiative

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what supplementary information he is requesting from those unsuccessful in bidding for resources from the Building Schools for the Future initiative but who were runners up; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: We have the necessary information we need from authorities to prioritise the second or third waves of Building Schools for the Future (BSF), and do not at this stage anticipate requesting anything further.

Teaching Assistants

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teaching assistants were employed in (a) north east Lincolnshire and (b) north Lincolnshire local education authority in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: The following table gives the numbers of full time equivalent teaching assistants employed in north east Lincolnshire and north Lincolnshire local education authorities for each year between 1997 and 2003, the latest year for which data is available.
	
		
			  North East Lincolnshire North Lincolnshire 
		
		
			 1997 216.6 175.7 
			 1998 242.4 204.7 
			 1999 261.9 244.6 
			 2000 312.0 267.0 
			 2001 462.3 329.3 
			 2002 523.6 429.8 
			 2003 570.4 451.0 
		
	
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census

Education (Ribble Valley)

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils were being educated at each key stage in the Ribble Valley constituency in each school year since 1997–98.

David Miliband: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		All schools(33) number of pupils by key stage: position as at January each year Ribble Valley parliamentary constituency
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Key Stage 1(34) 2,379 2,518 2,489 2,463 2,353 2,354 2,455 
			 Key Stage 2(35) 4,443 4,977 5,198 5,183 5,171 5,105 5,157 
			 Key Stage 3(36) 4,483 4,754 4,858 4,953 5,096 5,174 5,235 
			 Key Stage 4(37) 2,709 2,969 3,034 3,120 3,162 3,169 3,320 
		
	
	(33) Includes maintained schools and independent schools.
	(34) Pupils aged 5 and 6 as at 31 August the previous year.
	(35) Pupils aged 7, 8, 9 and 10 as at 31 August the previous year.
	(36) Pupils aged 11,12 and 13 as at 31 August the previous year.
	(37) Pupils aged 14 and 15 as at 31 August the previous year.
	Source
	Annual Schools' Census

Education (Ribble Valley)

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils were on the roll in each secondary school in the Ribble Valley and Fulwood constituency in each year since 1998; and what percentage (a) were eligible for and (b) took up free school meals.

David Miliband: It is the Department's policy not to publish figures about individual schools unless the schools concerned have had the opportunity to check or confirm that information. Therefore, aggregate data for Ribble Valley parliamentary constituency is shown in the table.
	
		Maintained secondary schools(38): number of pupils and school meal arrangements -- Position as at January each year—Ribble Valley parliamentary constituency
		
			  Total number of pupils on roll Number of pupils taking free school meals Percentage of pupils taking free school meals Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals 
		
		
			 1998 7,813 717 9.2 1,011 12.9 
			 1999 7,982 779 9.8 1,001 12.5 
			 2000 8,160 742 9.1 903 11.1 
			 2001 8,348 531 6.4 840 10.1 
			 2002 8,463 678 8.0 821 9.7 
			 2003 8,610 677 7.9 758 8.8 
		
	
	(38) Includes middle schools as deemed.
	Source:
	Annual Schools' Census
	
		Maintained primary and secondary schools: number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals by ethnic group and gender(39) -- January 2003: England
		
			  Pupils of compulsory school age and above 
			   Number of pupils known to be eligible for freeschool meals(40)  Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for freeschool meals(41) 
			  Boys Girls Total Boys Girls Total 
		
		
			 Maintained Primary(42) 
			 White 226,395 218,367 444,762 15.5 15.6 15.6 
			 White British 214,385 207,118 421,503 15.2 15.3 15.3 
			 Irish 1,549 1,413 2,962 22.7 21.7 22.2 
			 Traveller of Irish heritage 843 841 1,684 64.0 65.0 64.5 
			 Any other White background 8,449 7,814 16,263 23.1 22.5 22.8 
			 Gypsy / Roma 1,169 1,181 2,350 53.6 54.8 54.2 
			 Mixed 14,835 14,558 29,393 28.2 28.3 28.2 
			 White and Black Caribbean 6,500 6,599 13,099 35.3 35.3 35.3 
			 White and Black African 1,430 1,457 2,887 30.0 30.2 30.1 
			 White and Asian 2,152 2,034 4,186 20.4 20.1 20.3 
			 Any other mixed background 4,753 4,468 9,221 25.1 25.0 25.1 
			 Asian 32,317 31,251 63,568 26.9 27.1 27.0 
			 Indian 4,482 4,370 8.852 11.7 12.0 11.8 
			 Pakistani 16,402 15,726 32,128 32.5 32.6 32.5 
			 Bangladeshi 9,013 8,851 17,864 44.6 44.7 44.6 
			 Any other Asian background 2,420 2,304 4,724 21.3 21.6 21.5 
			 Black 24,803 24,187 48,990 38.5 38.2 38.4 
			 Black Caribbean 8,022 7,909 15,931 31.1 31.2 31.2 
			 Black African 14,128 13,737 27,865 44.6 44.1 44.4 
			 Any other Black background 2,653 2,541 5.194 37.7 37.6 37.6 
			 Chinese 580 570 1,150 10.8 10.5 10.6 
			 Any other ethnic group 6,316 5,648 11,964 41.5 40.0 40.7 
			 Classified 305,246 294,581 599,827 17.8 17.9 17.8 
			 Unclassified(43) 11,280 10,345 21,625 19.3 19.5 19.4 
			 All Pupils(39) 316,526 304,926 621,452 17.8 18.0 17.9 
		
	
	
		
			   Number of pupils known to be eligible for freeschool meals(40)  Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for freeschool meals(41) 
			  Boys Girls Total Boys Girls Total 
		
		
			 Maintained Secondary(42) 
			 White 168,522 168,791 337,313 12.2 12.4 12,3 
			 White British 160,221 160,961 321,182 12.0 12.2 12.1 
			 Irish 1,173 1,275 2,448 18.3 18.8 18.5 
			 Traveller of Irish heritage 260 260 520 42.0 48.2 44.9 
			 Any other White background 6,508 5,908 12,416 20.1 18.9 19.5 
			 Gypsy / Roma 360 387 747 49.8 46.7 48.1 
			 Mixed 7,628 8,360 15,988 24.5 24.9 24.7 
			 White and Black Caribbean 3,398 3,765 7,163 30.4 30.5 30.5 
			 White and Black African 658 740 1,398 25.2 26.7 26,0 
			 White and Asian 1,001 1,107 2,108 16.1 17.2 16.7 
			 Any other mixed background 2,571 2,748 5,319 23.0 22.8 22.9 
			 Asian 30,235 29,994 60,229 29.2 29.7 29.4 
			 Indian 4,788 4,686 9,474 12.0 12.0 12.0 
			 Pakistani 15,049 14,142 29,191 38.3 38.2 38.3 
			 Bangladeshi 8,260 9,211 17,471 56.7 58.8 57.8 
			 Any other Asian background 2,138 1,955 4,093 21.8 21.0 21.4 
			 Black 17,284 17,687 34,971 33.7 33.0 33.3 
			 Black Caribbean 6,371 6,502 12,873 28.5 27.4 27.9 
			 Black African 8,715 9,089 17,804 39.4 38.9 39.2 
			 Any other Black background 2,198 2,096 4,294 32.0 31.9 31.9 
			 Chinese 627 623 1,250 10.3 10.5 10.4 
			 Any other ethnic group 4,711 4,191 8,902 35.9 35.6 35.8 
			 Classified 229,007 229,646 458,653 14.5 14.7 14.6 
			 Unclassified(43) 10,538 9,589 20,127 12.4 12.6 12.5 
			 All Pupils(39) 239,545 239,235 478,780 14.4 14.6 14.5 
		
	
	(39) Pupils of compulsory school age and above.
	(40) Excludes dually registered pupils and includes boarders. Free school meal statistics shown here may not match with those shown in tables 13,14 and 15 due to difference in coverage.
	(41) Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals expressed as a percentage of the number (headcount) of pupils in each ethnic group.
	(42) Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(43) Information was not sought or refused.

Education Funding (Crosby)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding was spent per pupil in Crosby in each of the last seven years.

David Miliband: The information requested is submitted to the Department according to local education authority areas, rather than districts within an area. Crosby is a district of Sefton Local Education Authority. The information for Sefton LEA is as follows:
	
		Net Current Expenditure per pupil
		
			  Pre-Primary Education Primary Education Pre-Primary and Primary Education Secondary Education Special Schools 
		
		
			 1995–96 (44)— (44)— 1,864 2,591 18,029 
			 1996–97 (44)— (44)— 1,881 2,641 19,524 
			 1997–98 (44)— (44)— 1,887 2,635 20,191 
			 1998–99 (44)— (44)— 2,014 2,694 19,953 
			 1999–2000 4,695 2,168 2,184 2,779 23,923 
			 2000–01 16,779 2,325 2,414 3,007 26,116 
			 2001–02 30,555 2,565 2,740 3,434 27,405 
		
	
	(44) n/a
	Notes:
	1. The financial data are taken from Sefton LEA's Section 52 Outturn Statement submitted to the DfES from 1999–2000 onwards and the ODPM's RO1 statement prior to then.
	2. Pupil data are drawn from the Annual Schools Census adjusted to be on a financial year basis.
	3. Net current expenditure (NCE) included expenditure within schools and also that incurred centrally by the LEAs.
	4. Expenditure was not distinguished between pre-primary and primary sectors until the inception of the Section 52 outturn statement in 1999–2000.
	5. The NCE per pupil figures for pre-primary and primary relate the net current expenditure (after recharges) in the pre-primary sector and maintained primary schools to the total number of financial year pupils who are educated in the maintained nursery and primary schools sector.
	6. The NCE per pupil figures for secondary relate the net current expenditure (after recharges) in maintained secondary schools to the total number of financial year pupils who are educated in the maintained secondary schools sector.
	7. The NCE per pupil figures for special schools relate the net current expenditure (after recharges) in maintained special schools to the total number of financial year pupils who are educated in the maintained special schools sector.
	8. Figures used are quoted in cash terms and are as reported by the LEA.

Education Funding (Crosby)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding has been spent on education in Crosby in each of the last seven years.

David Miliband: The information requested is submitted to the Department according to local education authority areas, rather than districts within an area. Crosby is a district of Sefton Local Education Authority. The information for Sefton LEA is as follows:
	
		Net current expenditure on education in Sefton -- £
		
			  Pre-Primary Education Primary Education Pre-Primary and Primary Education Secondary Education Special Schools School spend Total spend 
		
		
			 1995–96 n/a n/a 50,315,000 50,485,000 7,545,000 108,345,000 127,284,000 
			 1996–97 n/a n/a 50,851,000 51,729,000 8,249,000 110,829,000 129,224,000 
			 1997–98 n/a n/a 50,778,000 51,924,000 8,652,000 111,354,000 129,018,000 
			 1998–99 n/a n/a 53,711,000 53,752,000 8,786,000 116,249,000 134,038,000 
			 1999–2000 746,462 56,623,696 57,370,158 56,179,871 10,574,015 124,124,044 134,055,749 
			 2000–01 2,653,825 59,676,537 62,330,362 61,801,812 11,312,423 135,444,597 142,747,524 
			 2001–02 4,827,740 64,331,639 69,159,379 71,239,782 11,606,211 152,005,372 156,814,246 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The financial data are taken from Sefton LEA's section 52 Outturn Statements submitted to the DfES from 1999–2000 onwards and the ODPM's R01 statement prior to then.
	2. Net current expenditure (NCE) includes expenditure within schools and also that incurred centrally by the LEAs.
	3. Expenditure was not distinguished between pre-primary and primary sectors until the inception of the section 52 outturn statement in 1999–2000.
	4. School spend includes net current expenditure on pre-primary education, primary education, secondary education and special schools.
	5. Total spend includes school spend plus net current expenditure on education out of school, continuing education and management and support.
	6. Figures used are cash terms as reported by the LEA.

Education/Training (Greater London)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money was spent on school buildings in Greater London in each year since 1997, broken down by borough.

David Miliband: I refer the hon. Member to my reply given on 8 March 2004, Official Report, column 1356W. The tables provided in that answer set out the capital support made by this Government to each London LEA since 1997–98.

Environmentally Sustainable Procurement

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in what ways environmentally sustainable procurement strategies within the Department have driven innovation in the design and supply of products.

Stephen Twigg: I refer to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs on 10 March 2004, Official Report, column 1543W.
	Within the framework of this overall approach, my Department is contributing towards innovation through public procurement in a number of ways including:
	encouraging schools to adopt innovative procurement structures in relation to provision of school food;
	offering fair trade products for sale in all departmental restaurants; and
	achieving a 17 per cent. renewable energy supply.

GCSE (Kurdish)

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the establishment of GCSE courses in the Kurdish language;
	(2)  what support his Department provides for the teaching of the Kurdish language.

Stephen Twigg: The Department encourages schools to offer a wide range of languages, including community languages, but does not provide targeted support for Kurdish. Under current National Curriculum requirements, schools are free to offer any modern foreign language, including Kurdish, as long as the offer includes at least one of the working languages of the EU.
	The decision whether or not to offer particular subjects at GCSE is one for the awarding bodies. Currently they do not offer a GCSE in Kurdish.

Higher Education

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding has been spent on higher education in Buckingham in each of the last seven years.

Alan Johnson: Data on funding for undergraduate students is held at institutional or regional level. There are no publicly funded higher education institutions within Buckingham. Eligible students attending designated courses at the privately funded University of Buckingham are eligible for student support. The available figures for funding these students are shown as follows. They relate only to spending on tuition fees, student loans (cash cost) and Dependants Grant for full-time undergraduate students.
	
		£
		
			 Academic year Tuition fees Student Loans (cash cost) Dependants Grant 
		
		
			 1999–00 76,800 73,700 2,470 
			 2000–01 157,800 115,700 3,180 
			 2001–02 179,600 141,300 8,990 
			 2002–03 178,000 140,500 2,400

Kinship Foster Carers

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of kinship foster carers (a) as a total for England, (b) aged 50 to 64 and (c) aged 65 and over; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The information we have available centrally provides a snapshot of Kinship foster placements at 31 March 2002. At 31 March 2002, 6,900 placements out of a total of 39,200 foster placements in England were with a relative or friend.
	The data we hold relates to number of placements rather than number of carers therefore we are unable to breakdown the figure in terms of ages of carers.
	2003 data will be available from 31 March 2004.

Learning and Skills Councils

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many complaints about maladministration have been dealt with internally by the Learning and Skills Councils in London since their establishment; and what the outcomes were.

Alan Johnson: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). Mark Haysom, the LSC's Chief Executive, will write to you direct and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

New Deal for Schools

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding each school in Chorley has received from the New Deal for Schools.

David Miliband: The table below shows the schools in the Chorley constituency that benefited from investment through the New Deal for Schools (NDS) programme, which commenced in 1997–98. From 2000–01, capital allocations to local authorities and schools have largely been made by formulae linked to Asset Management Plans. In addition, all schools have, since 2000–01, received Devolved Formula capital to use on their most urgent capital needs.
	
		NDS Allocations to schools in the Chorley constituency -- (£)
		
			 Year School Project Details Type Grant awarded 
		
		
			 1997/98 Rivington and Blackrod High School Lighting  381,000.00 
			  Albany High School Refurbishment and suiting of CDT facilities LEA wide grant (45)2,006,000.00 
			  Parklands High School Refurbishment of technology areas and laboratories LEA wide grant (45)2,006,000.00 
			  St Michael's Church of England High School Refurbishment of technology areas and laboratories LEA wide grant (45)2,006,000.00 
			 1999/2000 Golden Hill Pupil Referral Unit Rewires Project including 18 schools (46)1,007,100.00 
			  Eccleston Primary School Boilers/heating Project including 17 schools (46)601, 900.00 
			  Adlington Primary School Boilers/heating Project including 17 schools (46)601,900.00 
			  Clayton Brook Primary School Playground repairs Project including 25 schools (46)300,000.00 
			  Adlington St. Paul's Church of England Primary School Boilers/heating Project including 17 schools (46)601 ,900.00 
			  St George's Church of England Primary School, Chorley Playground repairs Project including 25 schools (46)300,000.00 
			  Clayton-le-Woods Church of England Primary School Playground repairs Project including 25 schools (46) 300,000.00 
			  Mawdesley St. Peters Church of England Primary School Playground repairs Project including 25 schools (46) 300,000.00 
			  St Chad's Catholic Primary School Rewires Project including 18 schools (46) 1, 007, 100.00 
			  St Michael's Church of England High School Boilers/Heating Project including 17 schools (46) 601, 900.00 
			  Mayfieid School Playground repairs Project including 25 schools (46) 300,000,00 
			 2000/01 Clayton-le-Woods Manor Road Primary School Replacement of temporary classrooms  128,204.00 
			  Rivington and Blackrod High School Replacement of temporary classrooms Project including 7 schools (46) 1, 506,040.00 
			  Eccleston Primary School Playground repairs Project including 29 schools (46) 270,090.00 
			  Balshaw Lane Community Primary School Rewires of electrical systems Project including 17 schools (46) 951 ,650.00 
			  Duke Street Primary School Replacement of Boilers/Heating Systems Project including 36 schools (46) 1, 143,1 10.00 
			  Adlington St. Paul's Church of England Primary School Rewires of electrical systems Project including 17 schools (46) 951, 650,00 
			  Chorley All Saints Church of England Primary School and Nursery Unit Replacement of boilers/heating systems Project including 36 schools (46) 1, 143,1 10.00 
			  Albany High School Refurbishment of CDT Project including 6 schools (46) 1, 502,992.00 
		
	
	Note:Rivington and Blackrod High School is administered by Bolton local education authority (LEA). The remaining schools are administered by Lancashire LEA.
	(45) For NDS 1 the £2,006,000 grant allocated was for Lancashire LEA wide
	projects, part of which was used for the three projects in the Chorley schools. The LEA will be able to say how much was allocated to each school.
	(46) Allocations shown are the totals for packages of projects which included schools in Chorley, The LEA will be able to say how much was allocated to each school.

Qualifications and Curriculum Authority

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent guidance the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority has issued on the titles of courses.

Stephen Twigg: The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority last published guidance on the titles of qualifications in March 2000. The QCA is planning to consult on new guidance on titles in autumn 2004.

Rewarding and Developing Staff Initiative

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding the Government has provided to universities for the Rewarding and Developing Staff funding initiative; and what criteria the Government attached to the initiative.

Alan Johnson: The Government have invested £50 million in 2001–02, £110 million in 2002–03 and £170 million for 2003–04 to underpin higher education institutions (HEIs) human resource strategies. This helps institutions to recruit and retain the staff they need to improve further the quality of teaching and learning, and to modernise management and reward systems. The £170 million will be consolidated into institutions' core grants from 2004–05. As part of the 2002 Spending Review settlement, an additional £50 million in 2004–05 and £117 million in 2005–06 will also be provided. This additional funding will be consolidated into institutions' core grants where the momentum for change is being maintained.
	HEIs have been asked to specifically address six priority areas in their human resource strategies:
	targeted approaches to recruitment and retention;
	staff and management development;
	equal opportunities including implementation of institution-wide job evaluation;
	reviewing staffing needs to match market demands, student numbers and technological change;
	rewarding good performance through annual staff reviews;
	tackling poor performance.

School Catchments

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) primary and (b) secondary school pupils live more than three miles from the school that they attend.

David Miliband: holding answer 18 March 2004
	The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Numbers of pupils living more than three miles from the maintained primary and secondary schools(47) that they attend—January 2003
		
			  Primary Secondary 
		
		
			 Number of school population travelling more than three miles 155,187 583,446 
			 Percentage of school population travelling more than three miles 3.7 17.8 
		
	
	(47) Includes middle schools as deemed
	Source:
	Annual Schools' Census

School Funding (Staffordshire)

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much funding each school in (a) Burton constituency and (b) Staffordshire has received from the New Deal for School.

David Miliband: I will write to my hon. Friend with this information and a copy of my response will be placed in the Library.

School Meals

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) primary and (b) secondary school pupils in England are (i) eligible for and (ii) take up free school meals, broken down by ethnic group.

Stephen Twigg: holding answer 18 March 2004
	The latest available information on the number of pupils eligible for free school meals broken down by ethnicity was published on 25 September 2003 in the statistical volume Statistics of Education, Schools in England 2003, Table 50, a copy of which has been placed in the Library. The table is also available on the statistics section of the DfES website at: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgatewav/DB/VOL/v000417/index.shtml
	The available information on the take up of free school meals is limited to school level aggregates that cannot be broken down by ethnic group.
	
		Maintained primary and secondary schools: Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals by ethnic group and gender (48)—January 2003Pupils of compulsory school age and above -- England
		
			  Maintained Primary(49) 
			  Number of pupils known to be eligible for freeschool meals(50) Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for freeschool meals(51) 
			  Boys Girls Total Boys Girls Total 
		
		
			 White 226,395 218,367 444,762 15.5 15.6 15.6 
			 White British 214,385 207,118 421,503 15.2 15.3 15.3 
			 Irish 1,549 1,413 2,962 22.7 21.7 22.2 
			 Traveller of Irish heritage 843 841 1,684 64.0 65.0 64.5 
			 Any other White background 8,449 7,814 16,263 23.1 22.5 22.8 
			 Gypsy / Roma 1,169 1,181 2,350 53.6 54.8 54.2 
			 Mixed 14,835 14,558 29,393 28.2 28.3 28.2 
			 White and Black Caribbean 6,500 6,599 13,099 35.3 35.3 35.3 
			 White and Black African 1,430 1,457 2,887 30.0 30.2 30.1 
			 White and Asian 2,152 2,034 4,186 20.4 20.1 20.3 
			 Any other mixed background 4,753 4,468 9,221 25.1 25.0 25.1 
			 Asian 32,317 31,251 63,568 26.9 27.1 27.0 
			 Indian 4,482 4,370 8,852 11.7 12.0 11.8 
			 Pakistani 16,402 15,726 32,128 32.5 32.6 32.5 
			 Bangladeshi 9,013 8,851 17,864 44.6 44.7 44.6 
			 Any other Asian background 2,420 2,304 4,724 21.3 21.6 21.5 
			 Black 24,803 24,187 48,990 38.5 38.2 38.4 
			 Black Caribbean 8,022 7,909 15,931 31.1 31.2 31.2 
			 Black African 14,128 13,737 27,865 44.6 44.1 44.4 
			 Any other Black background 2,653 2,541 5,194 37.7 37.6 37.6 
			 Chinese 580 570 1,150 10.8 10.5 10.6 
			 Any other ethnic group 6,316 5,648 11,964 41.5 40.0 40.7 
			 Classified 305,246 294,581 599,827 17,8 17.9 17.8 
			 Unclassified(52) 11,280 10,345 21,625 19.3 19.5 19.4 
			 All Pupils (48) 316,526 304,926 621,452 17.8 18.0 17.9 
		
	
	
		Pupils of compulsory school age and above
		
			  Maintained Secondary(49) 
			  Number of pupils known to be eligible for freeschool meals(50) Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for freeschool meals(51) 
			  Boys Girls Total Boys Girls Total 
		
		
			 White 168,522 168,791 337,313 12.2 12.4 12.3 
			 White British 160,221 160,961 321,182 12.0 12.2 12.1 
			 Irish 1,173 1,275 2,448 18.3 18.8 18.5 
			 Traveller of Irish heritage 260 260 520 42.0 48.2 44.9 
			 Any other White background 6,508 5,908 12,416 20.1 18.9 19.5 
			 Gypsy / Roma 360 387 747 49.8 46.7 48.1 
			 Mixed 7,628 8,360 15,988 24.5 24.9 24.7 
			 White and Black Caribbean 3,398 3,765 7,163 30.4 30.5 30.5 
			 White and Black African 658 740 1,398 25.2 26.7 26.0 
			 White and Asian 1,001 1,107 2,108 16.1 17.2 16.7 
			 Any other mixed background 2,571 2,748 5,319 23.0 22.8 22.9 
			 Asian 30,235 29,994 60,229 29.2 29.7 29.4 
			 Indian 4,788 4,686 9,474 12.0 12.0 12.0 
			 Pakistani 15,049 14,142 29,191 38.3 38.2 38.3 
			 Bangladeshi 8,260 9,211 17,471 56.7 58.8 57.8 
			 Any other Asian background 2,138 1,955 4,093 21.8 21.0 21.4 
			 Black 17,284 17,687 34,971 33.7 33.0 33.3 
			 Black Caribbean 6,371 6,502 12,873 28.5 27.4 27.9 
			 Black African 8,715 9,089 17,804 39.4 38.9 39.2 
			 Any other Black background 2,198 2,096 4,294 32.0 31.9 31.9 
			 Chinese 627 623 1,250 10.3 10.5 10.4 
			 Any other ethnic group 4,711 4,191 8,902 35.9 35.6 35.8 
			 Classified 229,007 229,646 458,653 14.5 14.7 14.6 
			 Unclassified (52) 10,538 9,589 20,127 12.4 12.6 12.5 
			 All Pupils (48) 239,545 239,235 478,780 14.4 14.6 14.5 
		
	
	(48) Pupils of compulsory school age and above.
	(49) includes middle schools as deemed.
	(50) Excludes dually registered pupils and includes boarders. Free school meal statistics shown here may not match with those shown in tables 13, 14 and 15 due to difference in coverage.
	(51) Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals expressed as a percentage of the number (headcount) of pupils in each ethnic group.
	(52) Information was not sought or refused.

School Meals

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent by each local education authority on free school meal provision in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in the latest year for which figures are available.

David Miliband: holding answer 18 March 2004
	My Department does not collect this information.

School Meals

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when the joint exercise by his Department and the Food Standards Agency into nutritional standards in schools will be complete.

Stephen Twigg: The jointly funded research exercise between the Department for Education and Skills and the Food Standards Agency is still underway. The results will be published late spring 2004 and will inform future policy decisions.

School Meals

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of parents whose children are receiving free school meals who supplement the meal with additional money or food.

Stephen Twigg: The Department for Education and Skills does not collect data on whether parents of children who are receiving free school meals supplement the meal with additional money or food.

School Sports

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the effects on schools of changes since 1997 in the level of investment in school sports in Crosby.

Stephen Twigg: The Government is investing more than £1 billion in England to transform physical education (PE), school sport and club links. The funding will help deliver an ambitious Public Service Agreement target, shared with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, to increase the percentage of five to 16 year olds who spend a minimum of two hours each week on high quality PE and school sport within and beyond the curriculum to 75 per cent. by 2006.
	Spearheading delivery are School Sport Partnerships, which provide for groups of schools to work together to increase sports opportunities for all young people. Latest research, published by the Departments on 4 March shows that 68 per cent. of pupils in schools that have been in a Partnership for three years, are taking up the two hour entitlement, rising to 90 per cent. at Key Stage 3, Data is currently being collected from remaining Partnerships and will be published in April. Disaggregated results will be available at that time.
	Significant funding is also being provided to specifically enhance PE and school sport facilities, with £3,331,000 being allocated from the New Opportunities Fund to schools in the Sefton LEA area.

School Sports

Jim Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action his Department is taking to ensure that extended use of sports facilities in schools built with private finance is affordable for all sections of the community.

Stephen Twigg: Schools PFI contracts are usually between a local authority and a private sector contractor. It is therefore for the authority to ensure that the extended use of sports facilities in schools is affordable for all sections of the community. The DfES does not have a direct role in these negotiations although it does issue standard contract guidance, which includes, among other things, provisions for safeguarding existing community use at current prices.
	When a local authority puts forward a bid to the DfES for a schools PFI project, we expect to see that the project supports the provision of dual use facilities that can be offered to the wider community. In almost all cases this will include sports facility provision, which is of course a significant asset to the local community.

School Uniform Grants

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will list the local authorities in England which provide school uniform grants; and what the average grant was in each authority in the last year for which figures are available.

Stephen Twigg: The information requested is not collected by the Department for Education and Skills.

Science Teaching (Chorley)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money has been spent on science in schools in Chorley in each year since 1997.

Alan Johnson: We do not hold information on what has been spent on science in individual schools. However, we are investing heavily in science teaching and learning in schools. We are working in partnership with the Wellcome Trust to create a national network of science learning centres to deliver continuing professional development to science technicians and science teachers. We have introduced the science strand of the Key Stage 3 National Strategy to improve standards of teaching and learning for all 11 to 14-year-olds and promote engaging and challenging science lessons. QCA have reviewed the Programme of Study for Key Stage 4 to ensure that it provides a core of content that is suitable to all learners, making sure that all young people have an understanding of the importance of science and technology to the world around them and that those who continue to study science post-16 have sufficient knowledge and skills.

Special Educational Needs

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many times the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunals panel have reviewed a decision under part (a) C and (b) D of the Special Educational Needs Tribunal (Amendment) Regulations 2002.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 17 March 2004
	Under regulation 37 of the Special Educational Needs Tribunal regulations 2001 parties may ask SENDIST to review a decision on the grounds that:
	(a) its decision was wrongly made as a result of an error on the part of the tribunal staff;
	(b) a party, who was entitled to be heard at the hearing but failed to appear or to be represented, had good and sufficient reason for failing to appear;
	(c) there was an obvious error in the decision; or
	(d) the interests of justice require.
	The Tribunal does not hold comprehensive statistics on the grounds for review hearings. However, it has identified four cases since September 2002 in which panels have reviewed decisions because they might have included obvious errors. Over the same period panels have reviewed five decisions because the interests of justice appeared to require it.

Special School Teachers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment has been made of the reasons for the change in teacher numbers in special schools between 2001 and 2002.

David Miliband: Between January 2001 and January 2002 the number of full-time equivalent regular teachers employed in maintained special schools in England fell from 14,330 to 14,320. This reflected a fall in full-time equivalent pupil numbers from 89,780 to 88,740 over the same period.

Teachers/Teaching Assistants (Staffordshire)

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teachers there were in (a) Staffordshire and (b) the Burton constituency in each of the last seven years.

David Miliband: The following table shows the full time equivalent number of regular teachers in service in the maintained sector in (a) the former Staffordshire local education authority area and (b) Burton constituency in each year between 1997 and 2003, the latest year for which information available.
	
		
			  Staffordshire Burton Constituency 
		
		
			 1997 1,260 120 
			 1998 1,420 135 
			 1999 1,510 157 
			 2000 1,650 180 
			 2001 1,900 204 
			 2002 1,780 221 
			 2003 2,380 301 
		
	
	Source:
	Form 618g survey of teacher numbers and vacancies for local education authority data and Annual Schools' Census for constituency data.

Teachers/Teaching Assistants (Staffordshire)

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teaching assistants there were in (a) Staffordshire and (b) the Burton constituency in each of the last seven years.

David Miliband: The following table shows the full time equivalent number of teaching assistants in service in maintained schools in (a) the former Staffordshire local education authority area and (b) Burton constituency in each year between 1997 and 2003, the latest year for which information is available.
	
		
			  Staffordshire Burton constituency 
		
		
			 1997 8,510 894 
			 1998 8,410 902 
			 1999 8,590 920 
			 2000 8,650 928 
			 2001 8,720 936 
			 2002 8,870 962 
			 2003 9,140 968 
		
	
	Source
	Annual Schools Census.

UKeU

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much has been spent on UKeU; and what discussions took place between UKeU and the Open University before it was launched.

Alan Johnson: The Government have provided £62 million to the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) for the eUniversities project. I understand HEFCE has provided £32.6 million to date to the eLearning Holding Company for investment in UKeU. A further £7 million has been used for the set up of the project and various public good programmes for the support of e-learning in higher education institutions.
	The eUniversities project was overseen from its outset by the HEFCE working in partnership with other funding bodies and the UK higher education sector. It was steered by a group with a wide representation from the HE sector, and the then Vice-Chancellor of the Open University was a special adviser to that group. The Open University, working with Cambridge University, was also one of UKeU's first pilot providers and is engaged in the eChina programme managed by UKeU.

UKeU

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students have enrolled in UKeU since it was launched; and what the average cost has been of educating each student.

Alan Johnson: Students are enrolled in programmes provided by UK higher education institutions through UKeU. As at November 2003, I understand that 900 students were enrolled.
	The £32 million invested to date through the Holding Company in UKeU has mainly supported the creation of an infrastructure to underpin e-learning in UK higher education institutions, rather than individual courses, whose costs per student vary according to their subject and content.

UKeU

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will merge UKeU with the Open University.

Alan Johnson: The future business direction and structure of UKeU is a matter for its board, taking into account the views of its major shareholder (the Holding Company—representing the views of the UK higher education sector) and its major funder, the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). HEFCE is currently holding restructuring discussions with the boards of UKeU and the eLearning Holding Company, to identify the best way forward to secure value from the venture for the higher education sector.

UN Convention (Children's Rights)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in what ways his Department is carrying forward the Government's commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of a Child.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 17 March 2004
	Many of the provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child have been reflected in the Government's priorities for many years, such as ensuring the rights of children to education, health, housing and safety, freedom from poverty and the right to participate in decisions that affect them.
	Recent action taken by the Government further to promote the provisions of the Convention includes the following:
	the introduction of the Children Bill. This aims to improve the systems for preventing abuse and neglect such as that suffered by Victoria Climbié. In the spirit of Articles 4 and 12 of the Convention, it will with Parliamentary approval also set up a post of Children's Commissioner in England, whose task it will be to collect children's views, act as their champion and ensure that they have access to quick and easy complaints procedures;
	the draft Advocacy Services and Representations Procedure (Children)(Amendment) Regulations 2004, which were laid on 11 March 2004 (SI 2004/719) under the Adoption and Children Act 2002. When made, these Regulations will impose on local authorities the duty to make arrangements for the provision of advocacy services for children and young people making or intending to make a complaint, again in the context of Article 12 of the Convention;
	ratification on 24 June 2003 of the Optional Protocol on the involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, in the context of Article 38;
	the Sexual Offences Act 2003, which brought UK legislation on sexual offences in England and Wales into line with the requirements of the Optional on the sale of children, prostitution and pornography. When implemented in May 2004, it will introduce further new offences such as paying for sex with a child and causing or inciting child prostitution or pornography, as well as further extending the controls on child trafficking, in the context of Articles 34 and 35 of the Convention.

Undergraduates (Greater London)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many undergraduate students in Greater London have declared themselves bankrupt in each year since 1992; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: The following table shows the number of student loan borrowers, both graduates and undergraduates whose awarding Local Education Authority is in the Greater London area, who have had bankruptcy orders made against them since 1992. There are no figures showing undergraduates as a separate group.
	We are proposing through the Higher Education Bill to amend legislation in order to exclude student loans from bankruptcy debt so that student loan debt will not be written-off on discharge.
	
		Borrowers in Greater London(53)
		
			 Bankrupt year(54) Number of Borrowers(55) , (56) , (57) , (58) 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1992 — 
			 1993 — 
			 1994 — 
			 1995 — 
			 1996 — 
			 1997 1 
			 1998 0 
			 1999 1 
			 2000 0 
			 2001 5 
			 2002 3 
			 2003 21(59) 
			 Total 31 
		
	
	(53) Borrowers whose awarding Authority [LEA] is in Greater London area.
	(54) Calendar Year in which the borrower became bankrupt.
	(55) Data shows the number of borrowers who have applied to SLC for a loan in respect of all eligible HE courses.
	(56) Includes borrowers who may or may not have graduated from their course.
	(57) Includes all types of students (including PGCE—Postgraduate Certificate of Education students).
	(58) Data covers both types of student loan—Mortgage Style (including loans sold to the private sector) and Income Contingent.
	(59) The increase in the numbers of bankruptcies in 2003 seems to be as a result of greater public awareness that students loans are provable in bankruptcy.
	Source
	Student Loans Company

Workforce Reform

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to support the cost of workforce reform after 2005–06; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: holding answer 17 March 2004
	The implications of workforce reform after 2005–06 will be considered by my right hon. Friend as part of Spending Review 2004, which will determine spending plans for the years 2006–08. Decisions on priorities between and within the services for which he is responsible will not be made until later this year.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Benefit Fraud

Steve Webb: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many staff in his Department have been (a) suspended, (b) dismissed, (c) prosecuted and (d) convicted for involvement in benefit fraud in each of the last six years; and what the amounts involved in each of those cases listed were.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) was established on 29 May 2002. Since its establishment, no staff in the office, its agencies or Government offices have been (a) suspended, (b) dismissed, (c) prosecuted or (d) convicted for involvement in benefit fraud.

Local Government

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many local government employees there were in each year since 1997.

Nick Raynsford: Figures for Great Britain, which are available in an article published in 'Economic Trends' (September 2003), show the following numbers of local government employees for the years between 1997 and 2002.
	
		
			  Number of local government employees (GB) 
		
		
			 1997 2,593,000 
			 1998 2,579,000 
			 1999 2,704,000 
			 2000 2,682,000 
			 2001 2,735,000 
			 2002 2,741,000

Civil Servants

Vincent Cable: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much space, expressed in square metres, the Department occupies for the offices of civil servants in (a) central London and (b) Greater London.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister currently occupies approximately 54,000 m 2 of space in inner London. This includes, where appropriate, office space for Ministers and their advisers as it is not possible to separate this out. The figure for outer London is approximately 1,400 m 2 .
	Space is defined as the internal area i.e. includes toilets, storage, basement etc. rather than useable office space.

Dee Estuary

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the undertaking given during his visit to the Airbus factory in Broughton, Flintshire on 5 March to ensure that permission is granted for the Dee Estuary to be dredged.

Keith Hill: I understand that the competent authorities are considering this issue under the terms of the Habitats Directive.

Departmental Staff

Gwyn Prosser: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the future staffing of his Department's Hemel office.

Yvette Cooper: Any decisions on the staffing levels of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Hemel Hempstead office will be taken in the light of the overall needs and priorities of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and other customers, in line with Government policy.

Fire and Rescue Services Bill

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what help will he give to help retain fire stations under the new Fire Bill.

Nick Raynsford: The Fire and Rescue Services Bill re-enacts the existing statutory duty for a fire and rescue authority to make provision for extinguishing fires and protecting life and property from fires within its area. The Bill also includes duties covering the role of fire and rescue authorities in dealing with road traffic accidents and other serious emergencies and promoting fire safety.
	The Government's previously recommended standards of fire cover will be superseded from 1 April 2004 when Fire and Rescue Authorities implement their first agreed Integrated Risk Management Plans (IRMPs). These plans will detail locally determined response standards on the basis of Authorities' assessment of risks to life in the community.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has provided authorities with written guidance and supported the development of their IRMPs with an HM Fire Service Inspectorate-led implementation support team. By mid-April the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will also have provided each fire and rescue service with a computer toolkit known as Fire Service Emergency Cover (FSEC) that models the impact of fire cover in reducing risk.
	The outcome of individual IRMPs, in some cases, will be the re-distribution of fire and rescue resources, including possible relocation of stations and appliances, where this is determined by the assessment of risk to the community. All IRMPs are subject to public consultation.
	The draft National Fire and Rescue Framework recognises the vital contribution of the retained section of the service and acknowledges the need to find solutions to these recruitment and retention challenges. That is why the Government announced on 15 December 2003 that there would be a review of issues affecting the retained section of the service. The review will examine the issues that contribute to these challenges, including equality and diversity, public awareness, engagement with the business community, deployment, community participation, role, reward and conditions of service. The recommendations of the review will be submitted to the Practitioners' Forum in the summer.

Growth Area Funding

Harry Cohen: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will identify the two sites referred to in the London Leyton area masterplan for which £150,000 growth area funding has been provided.

Keith Hill: Growth area funding of £150,000 has been awarded to the London Borough of Waltham Forest for the production of a masterplan for the Leyton area. The plan will provide a detailed development framework focusing on the development potential of two sites in close proximity to existing and potential transportation nodes. The two sites referred to are:
	(1) the Lea Bridge Station Area; and
	(2) Leyton Station and High Street South.

Housing

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his Answer of 5 March 2004, Official Report, column 1185W, on houses in multiple occupation, what plans he has to introduce a cap on the total licence fee payable per house in multiple occupation.

Keith Hill: The Government have no plans to cap the overall fee payable in respect of the whole house in multiple occupation. The cap will apply only to the individual units within the Houses in Multiple Occupation.

Local Government Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the levels of net debt were for each local authority in England in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Nick Raynsford: Levels of net debt for each local authority in England at 31 March 2003 (latest available data) are available on the Local Government Finance section of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister website at: http://www.local.odpm.gov.uk/finance/stats/debt3.xls.
	It should be noted that authorities with high levels of debt are generally those that have undertaken capital investment and that long-term borrowing to finance capital expenditure is currently regulated through the issue of credit approvals and, from 1 April 2004, will be subject to the Prudential System.

Local Government Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether a capped local authority will receive additional financial support from central Government to compensate for the costs of re-billing.

Nick Raynsford: No. Any authority that was capped "in year" would have to fund the re-billing costs from its own budget.

Local Government Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the average (a) district, (b) county, (c) London, (d) metropolitan and (e) unitary authority in England of re-issuing council tax bills following capping.

Nick Raynsford: The cost involved for an individual local authority would depend on the size of the authority and other local circumstances.

Local Government Finance

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  how much money the Treasury plans to set aside in 2005 for local government grants;
	(2)  how much money the Treasury set aside for local government grants in (a) 1997, (b) 1999, (c) 2001 and (d) 2003.

Nick Raynsford: The total of Government grant for local authorities' revenue spending, covering in the main Revenue Support Grant, National Non-Domestic Rates and specific grants in each of these years is as follows:
	
		
			  £ billion 
		
		
			 1997–98 35.767 
			 1999–2000 39.545 
			 2001–02 44.661 
			 2003–04 51.551 
			 2004–05 54.860

Local Government Finance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the range of new responsibilities to be undertaken by local authorities in the next financial year.

Nick Raynsford: New responsibilities that could constitute new burdens for local authorities are identified with the Local Government Association in the relevant Spending Review. Relevant new burdens were taken into account in the Local Government Finance Settlement for 2004–05.

Local Government Finance

Andrew Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 11 March 2004, Official Report, column 1710W, what the value was (a) of the grant paid to the Isle of Wight for 2004–05 and (b) which would have been calculated for the grant in 2004–05 using the area cost adjustment methodology proposed, but subsequently suspended for 2003–04.

Nick Raynsford: The information requested is as follows:
	(a) This is a good settlement for the Isle of Wight who will receive £101.6 million in formulae grant in 2004–5. On a like for like basis, formulae grant for the Isle of Wight has increased by 7 per cent. since 2003–4.
	(b) At the 2003–4 provisional settlement, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister calculated the area cost adjustment (ACA) for the Isle of Wight separately from that of Hampshire. As a result the Isle of Wight had an ACA factor of one.
	Had the ACA been calculated in this way for the 2004–5 settlement it is likely that the Isle of Wight would again have an ACA factor of one compared to, for example 1.0433 for education, and that the authority would have received less revenue support grant in 2004–5.
	However, quantifying exactly the effect on grant in 2004–5 of calculating the ACA separately for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in 2003–4 and 2004–5 can only be done at disproportionate cost. This is because it would require the re-calculation of the 2003–4 and 2004–5 ACA and the 2003–4 and 2004–5 settlements including the floor and ceiling calculations. This is a lengthy process.

New Deal for Communities

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the administration budget was for each New Deal for Communities partnership for each financial year since 1999–2000; and what the estimated administration budget for each such partnership is for financial years (i) 2004–2005 and (ii) 2005–06.

Yvette Cooper: The New Deal for Communities (NDC) Programme has 39 NDC Partnerships and £2 billion has been committed to them over the 10 years of the NDC Programme. The 17 Round 1 Partnerships entered their delivery phase in 2000–01 and the 22 Round 2 Partnerships entered their delivery phase in 2001–02. The following table provides figures for the administration budget for each partnership for the financial years 1999–2000 and the estimate for 2004–05 and 2005–06.
	The NDC Partnerships went through two phases before they entered their delivery phase. Phase 1 involved building up a partnership, phase 2 involved developing a delivery plan for the 10 years of the programme and, where possible, developing "quick win" projects. During Phase 1 and Phase 2 Management and Administration costs is expected to be high as the partnerships were in the initial stages of setting up and building a partnerships.
	Overall, partnerships may only spend up to 10 per cent. of their 10-year budget total on M and A during the-year life of their programme. Profiles vary, and some partnerships have spent more that 10 per cent. per annum on M and A so far. However, we fully expect this to be reconciled by the time each partnership reaches its final year.
	
		NDC Management and Administration Budget
		
			 Partnership 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05(60) 2005–06 (60) 
		
		
			 Newham 332,786 490,000 515,000 480,000 700,000 600,000 650,000 
			 Shoreditch 400,000 340,000 340,000 340,000 590,000 540,000 540,000 
			 Aylesbury 400,000 168,750 304,800 383,212 688,370 679,800 497,100 
			 Ocean 400,000 599,000 680,000 680,000 670,000 620,000 620,000 
			 South Kilburn 0 240,000 335,000 496,000 496,000 696,000 696,000 
			 North Fulham 0 299,500 380,000 520,000 500,000 528,472 520,000 
			 EC1 Islington 0 400,000 450,000 670,000 500,000 500,000 518,000 
			 Clapham Park 0 400,000 450,000 584,000 563,800 563,154 639,000 
			 New Cross 0 427,670 227,670 482,119 710,732 500,000 501,497 
			 Seven Sisters 0 208,000 612,000 635,000 553,000 550,000 550,000 
			 Brighton 362,350 628,680 775,564 660,178 437,451 543,991 572,532 
			 Southampton 10,000 387,000 362,000 385,850 450,000 600,000 480,000 
			 Plymouth 10,000 40,000 225,610 461,957 424,000 380,000 Not yet agreed 
			 Bristol 320,000 450,000 500,000 518,000 533,000 590,000 540,000 
			 Luton 0 0 375,000 600,000 500,900 Not yet agreed Not yet agreed 
			 Norwich 0 395,900 425,900 425,900 450,000 475,000 450,000 
			 Leicester 198,000 542,000 985,000 800,000 692,000 620,000 600,000 
			 Nottingham 200,000 299,000 360,000 482,000 520,000 500,000 500,000 
			 Derby 10,000 15,000 299,000 428,000 500,000 425,000 425,000 
			 Sandwell 400,000 546,968 599,437 500,000 500,000 500,000 500,000 
			 Walsall 0 223,000 250,000 465,000 450,000 455,000 260,000 
			 Coventry 0 260,000 385,002 519,021 555,000 555,000 550,000 
			 Wolverhampton 0 255,000 173,844 435,526 577,076 594,000 612,000 
			 Kings Norton 300,000 262,452 301,692 237,189 526,941 735,428 507,582 
			 Aston 0 235,000 116,500 520,000 520,000 535,000 550,000 
			 Doncaster 0 0 344,478 453,344 426,352 440,000 450,000 
			 Sheffield 0 0 680,000 680,000 506,587 506,587 506,587 
			 Bradford 0 314,000 460,600 514,700 502,200 500,000 500,000 
			 Hull 0 731,000 791,360 577,190 500,000 500,000 450,000 
			 Knowsley 0 0 306,969 524,627 504,820 780,611 1,168,580 
			 Kensington(60) 0 479,619 574,097 619,000 650,000 670,306 800,000 
			 Manchester 204,153 605,878 622,366 642,568 650,000 600,000 500,000 
			 Oldham 0 0 151,324 254,196 360,700 405,000 409,000 
			 Salford 0 0 204,571 289,997 740,000 740,000 740,000 
			 Rochdale 0 0 282,000 1,357,000 2,114,000 3,044,000 2,858,000 
			 Hartlepool 0 339,965 258,000 461,355 690,000 690,040 691,880 
			 Newcastle 350,000 200,000 388,000 650,000 670,000 600,000 575,000 
			 Middlesbrough 350,000 251,400 420,830 300,000 477,000 588,000 543,000 
			 Sunderland 0 300,000 305,000 397,000 839,000 400,000 500,000 
			 Total 4,247,289 11,334,782 16,218,614 20,429,929 23,238,929 23,750,389 22,970,758 
		
	
	(60) Please note that figures given for 2004–05 and 2005–06 are estimates and some are not yet agreed

Parliamentary Questions

Norman Baker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many parliamentary questions have been tabled to his Department since 1 January 2003, broken down by (a) ordinary written and (b) named day; what percentage in respect of (a) were answered within 10 working days; and what percentage in respect of (b) were answered by the specified date.

Yvette Cooper: Since 1 January 2003 to 27 February 2004 (a) 2,941 ordinary written parliamentary questions and (b) 548 named day parliamentary questions have been tabled to my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister, of these (a) 87 per cent. were answered within 10 working days and (b) 84 per cent. were answered by the specified date.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister endeavours to reply to all parliamentary questions within parliamentary deadlines wherever possible.

Regional Assemblies

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister who is responsible for the (a) design, (b) production and (c) distribution of the leaflets (i) "Your Say: A new opportunity for the North East", (ii) "Your Say: A new opportunity for the North West", (iii) "Your Say: A new opportunity for Yorkshire and the Humber", (iv) "Your Say: Business and Jobs" and (v) "Your Say: Assembly powers and responsibilities"; and at what cost.

Nick Raynsford: The "Your Say" campaign is aimed at informing the public in the north west, north east and Yorkshire and Humber regions about the Government's proposals for giving the region's voters an opportunity to say if they want to have regional Government.
	The Newcastle and Manchester based advertising agency Robson Brown was commissioned to design the three leaflets, "Your Say: A new opportunity" for the North East/North West/Yorkshire and the Humber and "Your Say: Business and Jobs" and "Your Say: Assembly" powers and responsibilities.
	Production has been carried out by Robson Brown and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's print procurement team.
	Distribution has been handled by the relevant Government Offices and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's retained distribution house.
	The combined design costs of the "Your Say: A new opportunity" leaflets totalled £8,750.
	Production costs to date of the "Your Say: A new opportunity leaflets" totals £28,586 for delivery of the following:
	North West—171,200 leaflets
	Yorkshire and the Humber—171,200 leaflets
	North East—139,200 leaflets.
	Design and production costs of "Your Say: Business and Jobs" totals £1,780 (5,000 copies per region).
	Design and production costs of "Your Say: Assembly powers" and responsibilities totals £1,400 (5,000 copies per region).

Social Housing (Greater London)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many new houses have been built in the social rented sector in Greater London in each year since 1997; and what the cost was in each year.

Keith Hill: The Housing Statistics Annual 2003 gives the number of completions of new dwellings built by Registered Social Landlords and local authorities in London as follows:
	
		
			  RSL completions Local authority completions Total completions 
		
		
			 1997–98 4,329 52 4,381 
			 1998–99 3,198 35 3,233 
			 1999–2000 2,934 0 2,934 
			 2000–01 4,162 158 4,320 
			 2001–02 3,512 27 3,539 
			 2002–03 4,258 71 4,329 
		
	
	Data on the cost of completions is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Sunset Clauses

David Stewart: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his policy on the use of sunset clauses in legislation; and which Acts containing such clauses relevant to his Department were passed in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister actively promotes the better regulation agenda, part of which is the use of sunset clauses where appropriate. Policy officials are aware of guidance that encourages them to consider time limiting (or "sunsetting") at an early stage of policy development and gives specific circumstances where this may be appropriate. The form in which particular aspects of policy are embodied in legislation is a matter for careful consideration by Ministers, who are advised in this respect by officials in conjunction with lawyers and Parliamentary Counsel. The use of a sunset clause (as of any other type of clause) would be the result of such consideration.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was established on 29 May 2002, as a result of machinery of government changes. Since then, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is aware of just one sunset clause in primary legislation for which it is responsible, namely section 1(7) of the Fire Services Act 2003, which prevents the making of an order (fixing firemen's conditions of service) more than two years after commencement of the Act (on the date of Royal Assent, 13 November 2003) except for an order revoking a previous order.

Telecommunications Masts

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the minimum distance is that a telecommunications mast may be from houses.

Yvette Cooper: The Stewart Report on Mobile Phones and Health, published in May 2000, did not recommend that the erection of mobile phone masts should be restricted in residential areas and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no plans to introduce such a restriction.

Telecommunications Masts

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will take steps to ensure that mobile telephone operatives consider the case for mast sharing before any application for new masts.

Yvette Cooper: Planning Policy Guidance Note 8, "Telecommunications" (PPG8), makes clear the expectation that developers should provide evidence to local planning authorities that they have carefully considered the use of existing masts, buildings and other structures before seeking to erect any new mast, regardless of size. The authority may be justified in refusing prior approval or planning permissions if it considers the evidence regarding the consideration of such alternative sites is not satisfactory.

Telecommunications Masts

Richard Spring: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will amend the General Permitted Development Order 1995, section 17 (A), to bring telecommunications masts and base stations erected on land owned by Network Rail into the full local authority planning process.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently taking forward a wide-ranging review of permitted development rights (PDRs), including those available to railway undertakers. On 10 September 2003 we published a research study on permitted development rights from Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners Ltd. This includes a review of the operation of the PDRs available to railway undertakers.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is considering the Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners' report's recommendations carefully and when we decide which of the suggested reforms should be taken forward, we will undertake a public consultation.

Telecommunications Masts

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the Code of Best Practice on Mobile Phone Network Development issued by his office on 11 November 2002 covers the Tetra project.

Yvette Cooper: Tetra is the acronym for the TErrestrial Trunked RAdio, which is a standard for digital private mobile radio. Airwave mm O2 is currently rolling out a Tetra system on behalf of the Home Office for police forces nation-wide. Airwave have agreed to work to the guidance contained in the Code Of Best Practice on Mobile Network Development.

Telecommunications Masts

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to amend Planning Policy Guidance Note 8 (revised) (PPG8) in relation to the Tetra project.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no plans to change Planning Policy Guidance Note 8 (revised) at present.

Telecommunications Masts

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive concerning Planning Policy Guidance Note 8 (revised) (PPG8) in relation to the Tetra project.

Yvette Cooper: The Scottish Executive was consulted prior to the publication of Planning Policy Guidance Note 8 (revised).

TREASURY

Money Laundering

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance he has published for estate agents on the requirements of the money laundering regulations which comes into force on 1 March; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The Money Laundering Regulations 2003, which came into force from 1 March 2004, impose high-level objectives to counter money laundering upon those carrying out business in the regulated sector. The Government, in line with the approach taken in the 1993 Money Laundering Regulations, does not issue guidance on the Regulations, instead encouraging industry bodies, regulators and supervisory authorities to provide guidance upon how best to meet the requirements of the Regulations. This allows industry the opportunity to tailor procedures to the differing circumstances and risks specific to individual sectors, thereby encouraging a more efficient, proportionate and flexible way of complying with the regulatory requirements. We are aware that the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RIGS) and the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) have drawn up guidance for members; the RIGS guidance to estate agent members and real estate auctioneers is also available to non-members and the general public on its web site.
	Industry guidance can be submitted to Treasury for approval.

Money Laundering

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a photcopy of a conveyancing solicitor's or conveyancer's identification documentation will be sufficient to enable estate agents to meet the money laundering regulations.

Ruth Kelly: The Money Laundering Regulations 2003 require, among other things, that identification procedures are maintained, in certain circumstances, which require the collection of satisfactory evidence of identity for an applicant for business.
	We are encouraging, and working with, industry bodies to provide guidance as to what procedures might satisfy this requirement. Ultimately it would be for the courts to decide in individual cases whether identification procedures were sufficient.

Pensioner Population

Simon Hughes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the pensioner population is in (a) each London borough and (b) England.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Simon Hughes, dated 22 March 2004
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question concerning the most recent pensioner population for England and each of the London boroughs. (62407)
	Attached is a table showing the mid-2002 population estimate of England, the City of London and each of the London boroughs for persons of pensionable age (65 years and over for males and 60 years and over for females).
	
		Population of pensionable age in England and the London boroughs: mid-2002
		
			 Area Population of pensionable age(61) (thousands)  
		
		
			  
			  
			 England 9,100.7 
			 City of London 1.1 
			 Barking and Dagenham 26.8 
			 Barnet 52.1 
			 Bexley 40.2 
			 Brent 36.5 
			 Bromley 57.3 
			 Camden 24.6 
			 Croydon 49.9 
			 Ealing 40.7 
			 Enfield 44.0 
			 Greenwich 31.9 
			 Hackney 22.1 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 20.6 
			 Haringey 25.0 
			 Harrow 35.1 
			 Havering 45.7 
			 Hillingdon 39.2 
			 Hounslow 28.2 
			 Islington 20.7 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 23.7 
			 Kingston upon Thames 22.2 
			 Lambeth 28.4 
			 Lewisham 31.4 
			 Merton 27.9 
			 Newham 25.5 
			 Redbridge 38.4 
			 Richmond upon Thames 26.6 
			 Southwark 29.3 
			 Sutton 30.0 
			 Tower Hamlets 21.1 
			 Waltham Forest 29.4 
			 Wandsworth 30.6 
			 Westminster 25.5 
		
	
	(61) 65 and over for males; 60 and over for females.
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics, Mid-2002 Population Estimates

Animal Feed

Jackie Lawrence: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what quantity of (a) soya and (b) maize gluten was imported for animal feed in each of the last five years; and which companies were the main importers in each case.

John Healey: HM Customs and Excise are responsible for the collection of data on imports. It is not possible to identify the quantities of imported soya and maize gluten for animal feed from the other items in the commodity code data held.

Birth Defects

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many birth defects there were in (a) England, (b) each region and (c) each strategic health authority in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Paul Burstow, dated 22 March 2002
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking for the number of birth defects in (a) England, (b) each region and (c) strategic health authorities since 1997.
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is responsible for maintaining the National Congenital Anomaly System (NCAS) notifications in England and Wales. These notifications are collected only for live and stillbirths (e.g. terminations are excluded) and are provided by NHS Trusts on a voluntary basis either directly to ONS or via local congenital anomaly registers that exchange data with ONS. In 1997 there were no registers exchanging information with NCAS. By 2001, NCAS received more complete information from four local congenital anomaly registers through multi-source ascertainment.
	As a result, numbers of notifications in England and Wales have increased since 1997. These registers cover all births in Wales and 24 per cent. of births in England. For the remaining areas NCAS relies solely on SD56 notification forms and is likely to be less complete. Up to eight malformations are recorded on the system for each baby.
	Estimates of the figures requested, covering the period 1997–2001 (latest available year) are shown in the attached table.
	
		Estimated numbers of malformations recorded, 1997–2001, England, Government Office Regions, Strategic Health Authorities
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 England 6,753 6,516 8,575 9,273 8,027 
			 Government Office Regions  
			 North East 211 276 289 215 145 
			 North West 1,122 1,118 1,257 1,744 1,471 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 913 740 1,103 1,186 973 
			 East Midlands 534 515 1,593 1,480 1,565 
			 West Midlands 713 705 754 690 623 
			 East 624 634 693 737 721 
			 London 951 907 871 1,375 1,157 
			 South East 985 980 968 991 762 
			 South West 634 641 1,047 855 610 
			 Strategic Health Authorities  
			 Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire 292 276 256 207 220 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 148 192 175 312 311 
			 Essex 184 166 262 218 190 
			 North West London 185 204 245 568 490 
			 North Central London 113 77 89 99 114 
			 North East London 187 202 171 204 175 
			 South East London 164 195 145 202 145 
			 South West London 302 229 221 302 233 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 147 159 190 141 94 
			 County Durham and Tees 130 117 99 74 51 
			 North and East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire 266 176 250 256 216 
			 West Yorkshire 169 196 202 270 170 
			 Cumbria and Lancashire 322 339 327 299 287 
			 Greater Manchester 532 537 643 610 585 
			 Cheshire and Merseyside 268 242 287 835 599 
			 Thames Valley 219 274 272 331 225 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 190 200 233 158 159 
			 Kent and Medway 158 153 185 244 166 
			 Surrey and Sussex 418 353 278 258 212 
			 Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire 238 254 284 324 276 
			 South West Peninsula 271 318 665 443 262 
			 Dorset and Somerset 125 69 98 88 72 
			 South Yorkshire 478 368 651 660 587 
			 Trent 277 270 1,083 916 817 
			 Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland 257 245 510 564 748 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire 185 217 218 192 141 
			 Birmingham and The Black Country 339 316 355 354 347 
			 Coventry, Warwickshire, Hereford and Worcester 189 172 181 144 135 
		
	
	Source:
	Estimates based on numbers of babies notified to National Congenital Anomaly System at 31 July 2002 (Health Statistics Quarterly no. 16 Annual update: Congenital anomaly statistics—notifications 2001) and the number of malformations recorded for each notified case.

Cancer

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the latest death rate figures for cancer are for England; and what they were in 1996–97.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Stephen Hesford, dated 22 March 2004
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking for the latest death rate figures for cancer for England; and what these were in 1996–97. (162770)
	The latest year for which data are available is 2002. Figures for cancer are shown in the table below for the calendar years 1996,1997 and 2002.
	
		Age-standardised death rate(62) for cancer(63) by sex in England, 1996,1997 and 2002(64)
		
			 Calendar year Males Females 
		
		
			 1996 248.4 169.4 
			 1997 240.6 166.7 
			
			 2002(65) 233.9 161.1 
		
	
	(62) Death rate at all ages per 100,000 population, age-standardised to the European standard population.
	(63) The cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes 140–208 for the years 1996 and 1997, and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes C00-C97 for 2002.
	(64) Figures are based on deaths occurring in each calendar year.
	(65) The introduction of ICD-10 for coding cause of death in 2001 resulted in the number of deaths coded as cancer at all ages increasing by 2.5% for males and 2.2% for females. For this reason rates are not completely comparable with those for years before this date and the figures should therefore be interpreted with caution. The effect of the change in classification in 2001 on deaths from cancer was published in Health Statistics Quarterly in May 2002.*
	* Office for National Statistics. Results of the ICD-10 bridge coding study, England and Wales, 1999. Health Statistics Quarterly 14 (2002), 75–83.

Carers

Simon Hughes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of carers aged 65 years and over in Greater London.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Simon Hughes, dated 22 March 2004
	As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what estimate has been made of the number of carers aged 65 years and over in Greater London.
	Figures from the Census 2001 National Report for England and Wales indicate that there were 96,132 people aged 65 and over in the London Government Office Region (GOR) providing unpaid care. The London GOR is equivalent to the administrative area of the Greater London Authority covering the 32 London Boroughs and the City of London.
	The information below has been extracted from the CD supplement to the 2001 Census National Report for England and Wales, which is available in the House of Commons Library. The table shows the distribution of these carers according to the number of hours of care provided per week.
	
		Number of people aged 65 and over providing unpaid care in the London GOR, 2001 -- London GOR
		
			  All people 
			  Provides care: 
			  1–19 hours 20–49 hours 50 or more hours Total 
		
		
			 65 to 74 36,917 6,921 18,625 62,463 
			 75 to 84 14,050 3,082 11,622 28,754 
			 85 to 89 1,573 451 1,920 3,944 
			 90 and over 382 141 448 971 
			 Total 52,922 10,595 32,615 96,132 
		
	
	Source:
	Table S025 Census 2001 National Report for England and Wales

Computer Misuse

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of computer misuse there were in his Department in (a) 1997 and (b) 2003, broken down by each category of misuse; and how many of those cases resulted in disciplinary action.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 18 March 2004
	The information is as follows:
	
		
			 Category of Misuse Cases Investigated 
		
		
			 HM Treasury  
			 1997  
			 Misuse of Email 1 
			 1 case resulted in disciplinary action.  
			   
			 2003  
			 Misuse of Internet 1 
			 1 case resulted in disciplinary action.  
			   
			 HM Customs and Excise  
			 1997  
			 Nil Nil 
			   
			 2003  
			 Accessing Data Bases 2 
			 Misuse of Email 158 
			 Misuse of Internet 12 
			 Misuse of PNC 4 
			 76 cases resulted in disciplinary action.  
			   
			 Inland Revenue  
			 1997  
			 Cases were not categorised 4 
			 4 cases resulted in disciplinary action. 
			 2003  
			  Cases Investigated may include more than one category of offence. 
			 Category of Misuse Offences Investigated 
			 Misuse of email 107 
			 Unauthorised Access 146 
			 Misuse of Internet 4 
			 Unauthorised disclosure 4 
			 Recreational Browsing 5 
			 Other 62 
			  322 cases resulted in disciplinary action.

Death Certification

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the new proposals on death certification will affect the recording of deaths involving MRSA.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell to Mr. Paul Burstow, dated 22 March 2004
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how the new proposals on death certification will affect the recording of deaths involving MRSA. I am replying in his absence.
	The proposal to reform the coroner and death certification service is likely to improve information about MRSA infection at or shortly before death in a number of ways:
	The emphasis on improved training for doctors in how to complete death certificates and the scrutiny of all certificates by specially trained medical examiners will improve the quality and completeness of information collected.
	The ability to link fact and cause of death to laboratory or patient records of infection will make it possible to determine how many people die following a diagnosis of invasive MRSA infection.
	Specific research studies would still be needed to determine how much MRSA, or other health care associated infections, contribute to the likelihood of dying amongst patients with the same underlying illness and treatment.

Deaths (Greater London)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deaths in people over 60 in each year since 1997 in Greater London were due to (a) cancer, (b) coronary heart disease and (c) falls.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Simon Hughes, dated 22 March 2004
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many deaths in people aged over 60 in each year since 1997 in Greater London were due to (a) cancer, (b) coronary heart disease and (c) falls. (163072)
	The latest year for which data are available is 2002. Figures for cancer, ischemic (otherwise known as coronary) heart disease and falls in persons aged 60 and over are shown in the attached table for each year from 1997 to 2002.
	The cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) for the years 1997 to 2000, and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) for 2001 and 2002. The introduction of ICD-10 has meant that the numbers of deaths from cancer in 2001 and 2002 are not completely comparable with those from previous years (see footnotes to table).
	
		Number of deaths from (a) cancer, (b) ischemic heart disease, and (c) falls(66) in persons aged 60 and over, Greater London(67) 1997 to 2002(68)
		
			 Calendar year (a) Cancer(69) (b) Ischemic heart disease (c) Falls(70) 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1997 12,947 11,536 150 
			 1998 12,889 11,398 167 
			 1999 12,328 10,955 163 
			 2000 12,031 10,207 176 
			 2001(69) 12,257 9,641 139 
			 2002(69) 12,165 9,316 121 
		
	
	(66) The cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) for the years 1997 to 2000, and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) for 2001 and 2002. The codes used are listed below:
	Cancer—ICD-9 140–208;/CD-70 C00-C97;
	Ischemic heart disease—ICD-9 410–414; ICD-10120–125;
	Falls—ICD-9 E880-E888 excluding E887; ICD-10 W00-W19.
	(67) Usual residents of London Government Office Region
	(68) Figures are based on deaths occurring in each calendar year.
	(69) The introduction of ICD-10 for coding cause of death in 2001 resulted in the number of deaths coded as cancer at all ages increasing by 2.5 per cent. for males and 2.2 per cent. for females. For this reason numbers are not completely comparable with those for years before this date. The effect of the introduction of ICD-10 is also known to vary by age and figures at age 60 and over should therefore be interpreted with caution. The effect of the change in classification in 2001 on deaths from cancer is described in a report published in May 2002.*
	(70) The data for falls for 1997 to 2000 exclude fractures of unspecified cause (ICD-9 E887), so data for these years are comparable to those for 2001 onwards. The effect of the change in classification in 2001 on deaths from falls is described in an article published in August 2003.**
	* Office for National Statistics. Results of the ICD-10 bridge coding study, England and Wales, 1999. Health Statistics Quarterly 14 (2002), 75–83.
	** Griffiths C and Rooney C. The effect of the introduction of ICD-10 on mortality from injury and poisoning in England and Wales. Health Statistics Quarterly 19 (2003), 10–21.

Departmental Advertising

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total cost is of the advertising campaign for tax credits.

Dawn Primarolo: The total cost to date of advertising for tax credits in 2003/04 is £10.6 million.

Drug-related Deaths

Simon Hughes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many drug-related deaths there were in people aged under (a) 21, (b) 30 and (c) 40 years in (i) Greater London and (ii) each London borough in the last year for which figures are available.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Simon Hughes, dated 22 March 2004
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question asking how many drug-related deaths there were in people aged under (a) 21, (b) 30, (c) 40 in (i) Greater London and (ii) each London Borough in the latest year for which figures are available. (162409)
	The most recent year for which figures are available is 2002. In Greater London in that year there were 7 deaths related to drug poisoning in persons aged under 21, 69 in persons aged 21–29, and 111 in persons aged 30–39. Numbers of deaths certified as due to drug poisoning for each London Borough are given in the attached table for persons aged under 40. With the exception of Lambeth (7 deaths at ages under 30), there were too few deaths at ages under 30 in all other London Boroughs to release figures without risk of disclosure.
	
		Deaths related to drug poisoning,(71) at ages under 40(72) by London Borough,(73) 2002(74)
		
			  Under 40 
		
		
			  
			  
			 City of London * 
			 Barking and Dagenham * 
			 Barnet * 
			 Bexley * 
			 Brent * 
			 Bromley 10 
			 Camden 11 
			 Croydon 7 
			 Haling * 
			 Enfield * 
			 Greenwich 7 
			 Hackney 5 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 6 
			 Haringey 9 
			 Harrow * 
			 Havering 5 
			 Hillingdon * 
			 Hounslow 6 
			 Islington 7 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 5 
			 Kingston upon Thames * 
			 Lambeth 15 
			 Lewisham 11 
			 Merton 6 
			 Newham 7 
			 Redbridge * 
			 Richmond upon Thames * 
			 Southwark 9 
			 Sutton 6 
			 Tower Hamlets 9 
			 Waltham Forest * 
			 Wandsworth * 
			 Westminster City of 6 
		
	
	(71) Defined using the following codes from the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision for 2002: F11-F16, X40-X44, X60-X64, Y10-Y14, X85.
	(72) Data are for persons aged between 0 and 39
	(73) Usual residence of the deceased by London Borough.
	(74) Data are for deaths occurring per calendar year
	* Fewer than five deaths
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics.

Earnings

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average percentage change in (a) public sector pay and (b) non-manual earnings has been in each year since 1993.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. Mike Hancock, dated 22 March 2004
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question for a list of the percentage change in (a) public sector pay and (b) non-manual earnings has been in each year since 1993. I am replying in his absence. (162291)
	I attach a table showing the percentage change in public sector pay and non-manual earnings.
	Average earnings are estimated from the 2003 New Earnings Survey (NES) and are provided for full-time employees on adult rates of pay whose pay was unaffected by absence during the pay period, by their place of work. This is the standard definition used for NES tables. The NES does not collect data on the self employed and people who do unpaid work.
	The NES, carried out in April of each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in Great Britain. It is a one per cent sample of all employees who are members of pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) schemes, but because of its sampling frame, it has difficulty capturing data on people with very low pay. It is therefore likely to under-represent relatively low paid staff earning below the tax threshold.
	Estimates for changes in non-manual earnings from 1993 to 2002 are coded from the non- manual classification in the Standard Occupational Classification 1990. Non-manual tables were not produced as part of the 2003 NES. This is because the data have been coded on the Standard Occupational Classification 2000 which does not differentiate between manual and non-manual employees. An alternative to the manual and non-manual split has been derived from the NES, based on the National Statistics Socio-economic Classification (NS-SEC) for the 2003 estimate. However, the two classification methods do produce different results and comparisons between the two should only be used with caution.
	
		Percentage change in (a) public sector pay and (b) non-manual earnings since 1993.
		
			 Year Public Sector Non-manual 
		
		
			 1993 to 1994 2.5 2.9 
			 1994 to 1995 — 3.1 
			 1995 to 1996 4.2 4.4 
			 1996 to 1997 3.3 4.5 
			 1997 to 1998 3.6 4.5 
			 1998 to 1999 4.0 3.8 
			 1 999 to 2000 3.6 4.5 
			 2000 to 2001 5.3 6.0 
			 2001 to 2002 3.6 4.6 
			 2002 to 2003 3.7 2.1 
		
	
	Notes:
	The data used for 2002 to 2003 was derived using the NS-SEC.
	Source for earnings data:
	New Earnings Survey, April 2003
	1. The Inter-Departmental Business Register was used to derive the Public sector.
	Comprising:
	(a) Central Government.
	Government departments and establishments, the National Health Service and various government-financed organisations.
	(The Armed Forces are not covered by the NES).
	(b) Local government.Local Government authorities (including education authorities), police service and various other organisations.
	(c) Public corporations.Nationalised industries, NHS Trusts, and other publicly-constituted trading organisations.
	2. Information is provided for average gross weekly earnings including overtime to and relates full time employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay period was unaffected by absence.
	3. Data for Public Sector percentage change is unavailable for 1994 -1995 due to a change in 1995 in sectoral coding, it was not possible to calculate the percentage increases for the sectors.

Earnings

Simon Hughes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for (a) male, (b) female and (c) all workers in (i) Greater London and (ii) each London borough the (A) weekly median earnings and (B) distribution of earnings for those earning (1) under the point below which 10 per cent. of earners fall and (2) the point above which 10 per cent. of earners exceed.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Simon Hughes, dated 22 March 2004
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question which asked for details of earnings in Greater London and each London Borough. I am replying in his absence.
	The attached table shows the median and percentile earnings.
	Average earnings are estimated from the 2003 New Earnings Survey (NES) and are provided for full-time employees on adult rates of pay whose pay was unaffected by absence during the pay period, by their place of work. This is the standard definition used for NES tables. The NES does not collect data on the self employed and people who do unpaid work.
	The NES, carried out in April of each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in Great Britain. It is a one per cent sample of all employees who are members of pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) schemes, but because of its sampling frame, it has difficulty capturing data on people with very low pay. It is therefore likely to under-represent relatively low paid staff earning below the tax threshold.
	The New Earnings Survey publication criteria ensures that all estimates are undisclosive and of reliable quality. A large number of estimates have been removed from the lists due to the suppression criteria. The information is based on the 2003 NES, the latest survey for which data are available. The area of Greater London is defined by grouping together all the boroughs of London.
	
		Full time employees gross weekly earnings (£) for Greater London and each London Borough, April 2003
		
			  Male Female All Employees 
			  10% earned less than Median (£) 10% earned more than 10 % earned less than Median (£) 10 % earned more than 10% earned less than Median (£) 10% earned more than 
		
		
			 Greater London 282.4 552.9 1260.1 242.8 447.9 821.6 264.0 501.6 1103.7 
			 City of London 412.8 834.9 2012.7 338.9 566.2 1302.8 383.9 706.3 1817.9 
			 Barking and Dagenham 268.8 524.4 1091.5 (75)— 363.9 (75)— 246.6 481.5 971.3 
			 Barnet  483.8 (75)— 244.9 409.5 666.9 (75)— 448.2 (75)— 
			 Bexley 240.2 438.3 791.6 211.6 344.0 617.8 238.3 412.3 744.5 
			 Brent 291.9 442.1 822.7 228.9 368.5 653.8 255.4 411.3 735.9 
			 Bromley (75)— 373.1 (75)— 194.7 307.6 599.0 200.1 333.2 822.1 
			 Camden 313.0 591.4 1218.6 290.4 492.1 863.7 304.6 550.9 1088.3 
			 Croydon 274.9 500.5 885.0 224.4 348.7 624.1 245.8 417.7 767.9 
			 Ealing 270.1 459.6 909.8 232.2 423.4 761.9 257.6 446.2 842.3 
			 Enfield 264.1 459.1 870.0 224.4 381.0 611.9 238.5 431.9 786.2 
			 Greenwich 293.9 483.0 805.1 (75)— 384.9 (75)— 230.3 449.1 773.2 
			 Hackney (75)— 496.3 (75)— 250.5 426.5 (75)— 299.7 479.6 889.4 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 348.5 575.8 1350.5 289.5 493.2 860.6 308.6 544.1 1082.4 
			 Haringey 257.5 449.9 704.0 270.1 382.4 681.8 272.3 419.3 689.6 
			 Harrow 282.6 510.4 998.8 249.7 396.4 750.5 261.2 448.6 821.9 
			 Havering 199.3 340.7 724.0 195.2 300.0 576.0 197.0 319.7 621.1 
			 Hillingdon 281.0 534.7 1013.2 202.0 386.9 781.4 237.1 483.4 918.7 
			 Hounslow 294.9 509.1 1172.4 236.8 422.3 729.2 260.0 479.9 994.4 
			 Islington 330.2 672.1 1610.4 289.5 530.2 1032.6 311.9 595.0 1419.0 
			 Kensington and Chelsea (75)— 516.4 (75)— 237.3 441.5 804.2 250.0 483.1 1058.2 
			 Kingston upon Thames (75)— 472.1 (75)— (75)— 411.8 (75)— 234.1 441.5 1006.5 
			 Lambeth (75)— 500.7 (75)— 286.2 467.4 761.2 269.8 488.5 960.9 
			 Lewisham 299.5 456.7 792.0 (75)— 478.2 (75)— 251.8 465.0 770.7 
			 Merton (75)— 407.0 (75)— (75)— 345.5 (75)— (75)— 384.0 (75)— 
			 Newham 240.0 477.5 809.0 (75)— 340.1 (75)— 229.9 416.8 753.2 
			 Redbridge (75)— 458.6 (75)— (75)— 410.3 (75)— (75)— 427.6 (75)— 
			 Richmond upon Thames 271.5 493.0 943.9 (75)— 422.3 (75)— 258.3 463.4 875.2 
			 Southwark 362.9 653.9 1033.5 299.6 504.1 927.9 337.0 600.1 1009.6 
			 Sutton 287.2 497.0 971.8 242.4 388.7 641.4 276.8 455.9 827.7 
			 Tower Hamlets 318.5 671.8 1695.0 326.7 563.4 1063.3 326.3 623.9 1570.1 
			 Waltham Forest (75)— 450.9 (75)— (75)— 391.5 (75)— 202.6 440.9 802.3 
			 Wandsworth 275.6 472.4 1038.0 257.2 448.6 738.4 265.4 460.7 921.3 
			 City of Westminster 287.8 581.6 1549.9 268.4 473.1 898.3 278.2 518.9 1247.6 
		
	
	(75) Data have been suppressed due to confidentiality or quality
	Note:
	1. The definition of Greater London is the total of all London Boroughs.
	2. Information is provided for average gross weekly earnings including overtime and relates full time employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay period was unaffected by absence.
	3. The New Earnings Survey release criteria currently require that any estimate: (a) of a mean is based on a sample size of at least 30 and that the associated standard error does not exceed 5 per cent. (b) of a quantile such as a percentile, quartile or median, or of a percentage, is based on a sample size of at least 10 and that the sample size is either at least 225 or that the relative standard error is less than 20 per cent.
	4. Estimates are produced for those people who work in a borough.

Electorate (Lancashire)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the change in the size of the electorate was in each Lancashire constituency in each year since 1997; and what these figures were as a percentage of the total.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Lindsay Hoyle, dated 22 March 2004
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question concerning the change in size of parliamentary electorate for each Lancashire parliamentary constituency since 1997. (162149)
	Attached is a table showing the total and percentage change of the number of registered parliamentary electors in each Lancashire constituency over the period 16 February 1996 to 1 December 2003. For completeness the Blackburn and Blackpool South constituencies are also shown. The Office for National Statistics did not publish electoral data for parliamentary constituencies for 2000. A new reference date for electoral registers came into effect on 1 December 2001. Previously the reference date was 16 February. Hence two figures are shown for 2001.
	It should be noted that these figures represent the number of registered electors. In many cases, larger decreases may be due to 'cleaning' the registers rather than 'real' drops in the number of electors.
	
		Parliamentary electors on the 1996 to 2003 electoral registers: Lancashire
		
			 Constituency 16 February 1996 16 February 1997 16 February 1998 16 February 1999 16 February 2001 1 December 2001 1 December 2002 1 December 2003 
		
		
			 Blackpool North and Fleetwood 75,901 75,681 75,371 75,321 74,756 75,552 75,036 75,304 
			 Burnley 67,538 68,219 68,268 68,396 66,934 67,119 65,803 64,659 
			 Chorley 74,621 75,251 76,047 76,468 77,758 78,526 78,510 79,243 
			 Fylde 70,601 72,026 71,921 72,859 73,717 74,402 74,726 75,518 
			 Hyndburn 67,507 67,395 67,291 67,442 66,936 67,123 66,730 66,780 
			 Lancaster and Wyre 77,746 78,942 78,847 78,983 79,495 80,816 81,253 81,456 
			 Morecambe and Lunesdale 68,632 68,624 68,559 68,228 68,070 68,417 68,756 68,240 
			 Pendle 64,077 63,541 63,464 63,333 63,281 63,674 63,935 64,483 
			 Preston 73,226 73,492 73,444 73,088 72,809 72,032 71,614 72,539 
			 Ribble Valley 72,504 73,524 74,023 74,500 75,033 75,607 76,009 76,646 
			 Rossendale and Darwen 70,524 70,435 70,380 70,704 70,884 71,276 70,966 71,494 
			 South Ribble 72,301 72,510 72,865 73,368 74,283 75,012 75,739 75,745 
			 West Lancashire 73,755 73,892 73,900 74,782 73,538 73,594 73,099 73,458 
			 Blackburn 73,896 73,744 73,829 73,967 73,498 73,985 72,669 72,840 
			 Blackpool South 77,538 76,395 75,732 75,614 74,651 75,086 72,512 73,749 
		
	
	
		Change in number of parliamentary electorsChange in number
		
			 Constituency 16 February 1996 to 16 February 1997 16 February 1997 to 16 February 1998 16 February 1998 to 16 February 1999 16 February 1999 to 16 February 2001 16 February 2001 to 1 December 2001 1 December 2001 to 1 December 2002 1 December 2002 to 1 December 2003 
		
		
			 Blackpool North and Fleetwood -220 -310 -50 -565 796 -516 268 
			 Burnley 681 49 128 -1,462 185 -1,316 -1,144 
			 Chorley 630 796 421 1,290 768 -16 733 
			 Fylde 1,425 -105 938 858 685 324 792 
			 Hyndburn -112 -104 151 -506 187 -393 50 
			 Lancaster and Wyre 1,196 -95 136 512 1,321 437 203 
			 Morecambe and Lunesdale -8 -65 -331 -158 347 339 -516 
			 Pendle -536 -77 -131 -52 393 261 548 
			 Preston 266 -48 -356 -279 -111 -418 925 
			 Ribble Valley 1,020 499 477 533 574 402 637 
			 Rossendale and Darwen -89 -55 324 180 392 -310 528 
			 South Ribble 209 355 503 915 729 727 6 
			 West Lancashire 137 8 882 -1,244 56 -495 359 
			 Blackburn -152 85 138 -469 487 -1,316 171 
			 Blackpool South -1,143 -663 -118 -963 435 -2,574 1,237 
		
	
	
		Percentage change in parliamentary electorsPercentage change
		
			 Constituency 16 February 1996 to 16 February 1997 16 February 1997 to 16 February 1998 16 February 1998 to 16 February 1999 16 February 1999 to 16 February 2001 16 February 2001 to 1 December 2001 1 December 2001 to 1 December 2002 1 December 2002 to 1 December 2003 
		
		
			 Blackpool North and Fleetwood -0.3 -0.4 -0.1 -0.8 1.1 -0.7 0.4 
			 Burnley 1.0 0.1 0.2 -2.1 0.3 -2.0 -1.7 
			 Chorley 0.8 1.1 0.6 1.7 1.0 0.0 0.9 
			 Fylde 2.0 -0.1 1.3 1.2 0.9 0.4 1.1 
			 Hyndburn -0.2 -0.2 0.2 -0.8 0.3 -0.6 0.1 
			 Lancaster and Wyre 1.5 -0.1 0.2 0.6 1.7 0.5 0.2 
			 Morecambe and Lunesdale 0.0 -0.1 -0.5 -0.2 0.5 0.5 -0.8 
			 Pendle -0.8 -0.1 -0.2 -0.1 0.6 0.4 0.9 
			 Preston 0.4 -0.1 -0.5 -0.4 -1.1 -0.6 1.3 
			 Ribble Valley 1.4 0.7 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.5 0.8 
			 Rossendale and Darwen -0.1 -0.1 0.5 0.3 0.6 -0.4 0.7 
			 South Ribble 0.3 0.5 0.7 1.2 1.0 1.0 0.0 
			 West Lancashire 0.2 0.0 1.2 -1.7 0.1 -0.7 0.5 
			 Blackburn -0.2 0.1 0.2 -0.6 0.7 -1.8 0.2 
			 Blackpool South -1.5 -0.9 -0.2 -1.3 0.6 -3.4 1.7 
		
	
	Source:
	Office for National Statistics

Employer Tax Contributions

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects of harmonising employer support on income tax, National Insurance contributions and VAT.

Dawn Primarolo: The O'Donnell Review of the Revenue Departments was published on 17 March 2004. The Chancellor accepted the Review recommendations in full.

Labour Statistics

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the (a) change and (b) percentage change in the number of full-time jobs in Stroud was from 1997 to 31 December 2003;
	(2)  how many people were employed in manufacturing jobs in Stroud in each of the last seven years for which figures are available; and what percentage of the total work force this represented.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Drew, dated 22 March 2004
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about full time jobs, and manufacturing jobs in Stroud. (162738, 162739)
	Please find attached two tables giving the information requested.
	Table A shows the number of full-time and part-time jobs in Stroud Parliamentary Constituency in 1997 and 2002, the latest year for which information is available.
	Table B shows the number of people employed in manufacturing jobs in the Stroud Parliamentary Constituency, and these numbers as a percentage of the total number of employees, from 1996 to 2002, the latest year for which information is available.
	
		Table A; Full-time and Part-time employees(76) in Stroud Parliamentary Constituency: 1997 and 2002 -- Number, per cent
		
			  Full Time Part Time Total 
		
		
			 Number of employees   
			 1997 23,800 9,900 33,700 
			 2002 23,400 12,000 35,400 
			 
			 Change from 1997 to 2002   
			 Absolute -400 2,100 1,700 
			 Percentage -1.3% 20.6% 5.1% 
		
	
	(76) Employee jobs only, not self-employed jobs
	Source:
	1997, Annual Employment Survey; 2002, Annual Business Inquiry (ABI)
	
		Table B: Employees(77) in manufacturing in the Stroud Parliamentary Constituency; 1996–2002
		
			  Employees in Manufacturing % of all employees 
		
		
			 1996 11,400 33.1 
			 1997 9,200 27.2 
			 1998 10,000 28.2 
			 1999 9,600 26.0 
			 2000 8,800 25.1 
			 2001 6,800 20.1 
			 2002 6,700 18.8 
		
	
	(77) Employee jobs only, not self-employed jobs
	Source:
	1996–1997, Annual Employment Survey; 1998–2002, Annual Business Inquiry (ABI)

Labour Statistics

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the level of unemployment was in Stroud in each year since 1997; and what percentage of the workforce this represented.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mr. David Drew, dated 22 March 2004
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about unemployment in Stroud. I am replying in his absence. (162740)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) following International Labour Organisation definitions. However, the LFS sample size is too small to give reliable estimates of unemployment in the Stroud Parliamentary Constituency.
	ONS also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (ISA) for local areas including parliamentary constituencies.
	The attached table gives the annual average number of JSA claimants and the proportion of the resident working age population for the Stroud constituency for each year since 1997.
	
		JSA claimants in the Stroud Constituencyannual averages
		
			  Total Rate(78) 
		
		
			 1997 1,569 2.6 
			 1998 1,239 2.1 
			 1999 1,204 2.0 
			 2000 1,040 1.7 
			 2001 997 1.7 
			 2002 919 1.5 
			 2003 924 1.5 
		
	
	(78) Proportion of resident working age population of Stroud Constituency calculated using the 2001 resident working age population.

Labour Statistics

Simon Hughes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many (a) males and (b) females aged (i) 21 to 30, (ii) 31 to 40, (iii) 41 to 50 and (iv) 51 to 60 years in Greater London have been unemployed for (A) less than one month, (B) less than three months, (C) less than six months, (D) six to 12 months and (E) over 12 months;
	(2)  how many people aged (a) 21 to 30, (b) 31 to 40, (c) 41 to 50 and (d) 51 to 60 years are unemployed. [162361

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Simon Hughes, dated 22 March 2004
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about unemployment by age group and duration. I am replying in his absence. (162360, 162361)
	The attached table shows unemployment estimates from the Labour Force Survey by gender, age and duration in London and in the UK, for the three month period ending November 2003, the most recent period for which information for these categories is available. The data are not seasonally adjusted.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to sampling variability.
	
		Persons aged 21–60: duration(79) of unemployment by age -- 3 months ending November 2003 (not seasonally adjusted)Thousands
		
			 UK Greater London 
			 Age group All durations All durations Less than 3 months 3 months but less than 6 months 6 months but less than 12 months Over 12 months 
		
		
			 Total 21–60 1,042 205 76 43 35 50 
			 21–30 366 77 37 16 12 12 
			 31–40 290 56 16 15 10 15 
			 41–50 215 44 14 * * 14 
			 51–60 172 28 10 * * 10 
			 Men   
			 Total 21–60 606 115 36 23 23 33 
			 21–30 227 46 23 * * * 
			 31–40 157 31 * * * * 
			 41–50 118 22 * * * * 
			 51–60 105 16 * * * * 
			 Women   
			 Total 21–60 436 90 40 20 13 17 
			 21–30 139 31 15 * * * 
			 31–40 132 25 * * * * 
			 41–50 97 22 10 * * * 
			 51–60 67 12 * * * * 
		
	
	Source:ONS Labour Force Survey
	(79) Duration of unemployment is defined as the length of time for which a person has been seeking work or the length of time since he or she left their most recent job (whichever is the shorter).* Sample size too small for reliable estimate. The shortest period available is less than three months.

EU Taxation

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total level of tax raised was per head of population for each current EU country for the last year for which figures are available, taking into account all sources of taxation and National Insurance and equivalent revenue.

Dawn Primarolo: The OECD publishes figures for "Tax revenue in US dollars per capita" for each of its member countries, in its annual Revenue Statistics publication. The latest available figures are for 2001 (OECD Revenue Statistics 1965–2002, October 2003 edition, p.90, Table 34). A copy of this publication is available in the Library of the House.

Euro

David Drew: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department is taking to continue to evaluate its five economic tests for entry to the euro; and what plans he has to publish findings on a regular basis.

Ruth Kelly: As the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his Budget speech, "while the Government does not propose an assessment be initiated at the time of this Budget, the Treasury will again review the situation at Budget time next year and report to the House."

Housing Market

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he intends to take to encourage more first time home buyers into the market.

Ruth Kelly: The Government announced in the Budget statement its intention to implement a programme of change, as recommended by the final report of the Barker Review "Delivering Stability: Securing our Future Housing Needs" published on 17 March 2004, in order to meet the key objectives of stability and improved housing market affordability.

Inland Revenue

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what efforts are being made to (a) enhance the services provided by the Inland Revenue and (b) facilitate its closer working with other government departments.

Dawn Primarolo: In July 2003 the Chancellor announced a major review of the Inland Revenue, HM Customs and Excise and the Treasury, led by Gus O'Donnell, which looked at these issues in detail. The O'Donnell Review delivered its conclusions on 17 March 2004 with recommendations to enhance customer service by integrating the work of the Revenue and Customs into a single, new department.

Pet Passports

James Gray: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what level of VAT is chargeable on (a) passports, (b) pet passports and (c) passports for horses.

John Healey: holding answer 16 March 2004
	British Citizens' passports are issued under statute by the Passport Office. Public bodies are not engaged in business activities when they undertake their statutory duties, rendering these public services free from VAT.
	Customs and Excise understand that certificates under the Pet Travel Scheme are issued by veterinary surgeons in the course of vaccinating the animal in question. Veterinary treatment is subject to 17.5 per cent. VAT.
	If passports for horses are issued commercially by non-public bodies, they will also be subject to 17.5 per cent. VAT.

Financial Services (VAT)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the types of financial transaction that are subject to VAT.

John Healey: In general, financial services are exempt from VAT. Group 5 of Schedule 9 to the VAT Act 1994 sets out in detail which supplies of financial services are exempt from VAT.

National Asset Register

David Heath: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions the National Asset Register has been published since November 1997.

Ruth Kelly: The National Asset Register has been published on one occasion since November 1997, in July 2001.

Orphans Fund

Alan Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Financial Services Industry on the orphans funds held in respect of unclaimed matured policies.

Ruth Kelly: Ministers and officials regularly meet representatives from the financial services industry and discuss a wide range of issues.

Pensions

Simon Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average effect would be on an individual pensioner of adopting the harmonised index of consumer prices as a means of calculating inflation in respect of pensions in each year until 2007.

Malcolm Wicks: The information requested is not currently available.
	The effect on pensioners of adopting the harmonised index of consumer prices as a means of calculating inflation in respect of pensions in each year from April 2004 until 2007 would differ depending on the circumstances of each pensioner.
	However, we have no plans to change the basis on which we uprate state pensions.

Pensions

Simon Thomas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many pensioners have been affected by the changes to the way inflation is calculated since the adoption of the harmonised index of consumer prices.

Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply.
	The harmonised index of consumer prices is not used to uprate social security benefits, and there is no requirement to use it to uprate occupational or personal pensions.

Personal Debt

Jim Dowd: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the current level of debt outstanding on (a) credit cards and (b) home loans and mortgages in the UK; and what the comparable figures were in each of the past five years.

Ruth Kelly: This data can be found within table A5 of the Bank of England's 'Monetary and Financial Statistics' publication, available from the Bank of England's website: www.bankofengland.co.uk.

Pre-owned Assets Tax

Boris Johnson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he received from tax practitioners during the consultation period on the proposed tax on pre-owned assets.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government has received over 100 responses from tax practitioners. Following consultation proposals to tackle tax avoidance using trusts were set out in Budget 2004 (paragraphs 5.87 to 5.90).

Procurement (Outsourcing)

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a statement on his Department's procurement policy with regard to offshore IT and call centre outsourcing; whether his Department is outsourcing IT and call centres jobs to offshore companies; to which countries his Department has outsourced these jobs; how much his Department has spent on this outsourcing in each of the last two years; and how much has been budgeted for this purpose for the next two years.

Ruth Kelly: The Chancellor of the Exchequer's Departments base their procurement decisions on obtaining goods and services that represent the best value for money and are in accordance with their public policy remits, within European legislation and the Government's UK procurement rules. These departments do not currently have outsourced IT or call centre contracts with offshore companies, with the exception of limited technical support provided under very strict security arrangements as part of the Inland Revenue's Self Assessment system. This arrangement will end in July 2004.

Residential Property Purchase

Hywel Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimates have been made of the cost of implementing the tax relief proposals on purchasing residential property through (a) SIPPS and (b) SAPPS in terms of tax forgone for each financial year until 2010;
	(2)  what estimates have been made of the number of people taking up proposals announced in the Pre Budget Report to purchase residential property through (a) SIPPS and (b) SAPPS.

Ruth Kelly: The majority of pension savers—over 14 million—are members of schemes currently free to invest in residential property. The new rules will provide a level playing field by allowing some specialised pension funds (SIPPS and SAPPS), held by around 200,000 people, to invest in property for the first time. However for the vast majority of these people investing in property will have little or no attraction because all rental income must go into the pension fund and the property must be sold before the pension can be drawn. Neither do the proposed changes present a 40 per cent. tax break, as some have suggested, as any use of the property for personal use will incur a tax charge.

Self-Assessment

Bob Russell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many penalty notices were issued by the Inland Revenue to taxpayers for alleged late submission or non-submission of their 2003 self-assessment tax returns by the 31 January 2003 deadline in circumstances where they had been returned by this date; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue does not currently hold figures of the number of Late Filing Penalty Notices issued for self assessment returns for 2002–03 which might have been issued in these circumstances.

Self-Assessment

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the implementation by the Inland Revenue of the scheme whereby taxpayers who no longer need to submit a self-assessment return are informed of this;
	(2)  what percentage of taxpayers on low incomes have been removed from the self-assessment system since July 2002; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  if he will make a statement on the simplification of the self-assessment tax return.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to paragraph 5.102 of Budget 2004 (HC 301). In addition, the Inland Revenue estimates that up to one million people will be taken out of self-assessment altogether over the coming year. Letters will be sent to them automatically explaining that they will no longer be issued with returns.

Population Statistics

Eric Forth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) births, (b) deaths, (c) marriages and (d) divorces there were in each year since 1997.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from John Pullinger to Mr. Eric Forth, dated 22 March 2004
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your question concerning the numbers of births, deaths, marriages and divorces for each year since 1997. I am replying in his absence.(162935)
	Attached is a table providing the information requested.
	
		
			  Births Deaths Marriages Numbers divorces 
		
		
			 1997 643,095 555,281 272,536 146,689 
			 1998 635,901 555,015 267,303 145,214 
			 1999 621,872 556,118 263,515 144,556 
			 2000 604,441 535.664 267,961 141,135 
			 2001 594,634 530,373 249,227 143,818 
			 2002 596,122 533,527 254,397 147,735 
		
	
	Source
	Office for National Statistics

Tax Credits

Peter Bradley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in The Wrekin are in receipt of (a) working tax credit and (b) child tax credit; and what the average change in income has been as a result.

Dawn Primarolo: For the numbers in receipt of child tax credit (CTC) and working tax credit (WTC), I refer my hon. Friend to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Burton (Mrs Dean) on 15 March 2004, Official Report, column 98W.
	It is not possible to estimate the average change in income from the introduction of CTC and WTC for families in The Wrekin. An estimated 3,500 in-work families there were receiving more than the family element of CTC at January 2004, compared with 2,100 receiving Working Families' and Disabled Person's Tax Credits at November 2002; and there was an increase of £180 per year in the child element of CTC from April announced in the November 2003 Pre Budget Report. Out-of-work families with children have also benefited from the increases to the child premia in Income Support and income-based Jobseeker's Allowance from April 2003.

Tax Credits

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how much money has been overpaid to tax credit recipients in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the United Kingdom in (i) 2003 and (ii) 2004 to date;
	(2)  how many people in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the United Kingdom were overpaid disabled person's tax credit before its replacement by working tax credit;
	(3)  how many people in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the United Kingdom have been overpaid working tax credit;
	(4)  how many people in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the United Kingdom receive working tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: The number of families with overpayments in 2003–04 cannot be established until awards for that year are finalised.
	On overpayments of the Disabled Person's Tax Credit, I refer my hon. Friend to my answer to the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. O'Brien) on 12 November 2003 Official Report, column 394W.
	The number of families in the United Kingdom and in each region receiving (a) child tax credit and (b) working tax credit appears in "Child and Working Tax Credit. Quarterly Statistics". The number of families in each local authority and constituency receiving child or working tax credit appears in "Child and Working Tax Credit. Geographical Analyses"; the estimates are based on a sample of cases and are subject to sampling uncertainty. Both publications appear on the Inland Revenue website, at: www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/menu.htm.

Tax Credits

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many awards of child tax credit have been determined to have been wrongly calculated; and of those how many were (a) too high and (b) too low;
	(2)  how many awards of child tax credit have been determined to have been wrongly calculated in (a) the North West and (b) Lancashire; and of those how many were (i) too high and (ii) too low.

Dawn Primarolo: Tax credits awards are made on the basis of information captured from claim forms or from claims made online (at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/taxcredits). Awards are then adjusted if a change in circumstances or income is reported. They may also be adjusted if any of the information on which the award was based is incorrect. But it is not possible to distinguish between cases where families' circumstances or incomes have changed and those where the original information provided was incorrect or was handled incorrectly.

Working Tax Credit

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many fraudulent claims have been made for the childcare element of the working tax credit in each year since 2002.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Northavon (Mr. Webb) on 5 February 2004, Official Report, columns 1003–04W.

Winter Deaths (Liverpool)

Louise Ellman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have died in the winter months in each of the council wards of Liverpool in each of the last 10 years.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mrs. Louise Ellman, dated 22 March 2004
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many people have died in the winter months in each of the council wards of Liverpool over each of the last 10 years. (162565)
	Figures are presented for the winter months (December to March) in each year from 1993–94 to 2001–02 in the attached table. The latest year for which data are available is 2002. Numbers of deaths occurring in each winter before 1993 are not readily available at ward level and could only be produced at disproportionate cost.
	
		Number of deaths in winter months(80) in each year from 1993–94 to 2001–02 by electoral ward(81) in Liverpool(82)
		
			 Electoral ward 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			 Abercromby 52 57 59 69 44 52 38 59 46 
			 Aigburth 128 119 130 135 87 136 112 97 104 
			 Allerton 76 75 84 91 68 77 75 60 73 
			 Anfield 99 73 94 101 78 85 74 86 73 
			 Arundel 55 72 69 56 52 86 52 64 76 
			 Breckfield 64 78 53 71 65 54 65 55 63 
			 Broadgreen 81 69 83 90 86 107 108 100 88 
			 Childwall 49 52 64 57 52 68 45 42 55 
			 Church 79 65 72 69 56 73 60 75 78 
			 Clubmoor 70 83 67 79 74 78 64 71 51 
			 County 68 83 64 78 45 69 56 48 57 
			 Croxteth 81 93 85 95 86 75 86 69 73 
			 Dingle 68 64 53 51 46 63 62 49 52 
			 Dovecot 44 47 51 61 60 44 45 63 56 
			 Everton 37 33 37 40 34 39 28 36 24 
			 Fazakerley 65 76 75 66 54 61 72 65 61 
			 Gillmoss 88 69 83 82 83 76 77 100 66 
			 Granby 48 53 59 60 47 64 54 53 33 
			 Grassendale 71 72 85 73 64 72 76 58 76 
			 Kensington 76 65 82 65 48 65 42 67 41 
			 Melrose 61 76 72 67 74 79 71 75 70 
			 Netherley 39 27 33 37 38 45 30 23 26 
			 Old Swan 76 59 72 62 59 71 44 58 64 
			 Picton 56 46 55 41 42 59 62 39 46 
			 Pirrie 51 61 62 45 44 66 52 65 45 
			 St. Mary's 57 63 72 64 53 72 64 51 36 
			 Smithdown 40 42 60 59 42 65 55 41 36 
			 Speke 49 39 58 60 60 59 48 40 52 
			 Tuebrook 52 64 56 57 52 59 49 57 54 
			 Valley 45 57 54 44 45 57 54 43 29 
			 Vauxhall 45 40 55 43 47 46 57 51 43 
			 Warbreck 68 55 65 71 69 69 75 54 56 
			 Woolton 75 83 66 76 59 64 50 66 51 
		
	
	(80) Figures shown are numbers of deaths occurring between December of one year and March of the following year.
	(81) Boundaries as at May 2003.
	(82) Usual residents of Liverpool metropolitan district.